Crystal-Face-Selective Supporting of Gold Nanoparticles on Layered Double Hydroxide as Efficient Catalyst for Epoxidation of Styrene

Au catalysts with layered double hydroxide (LDH) as support were fabricated and the crystal faces feature of LDH platelets was revealed to have a crucial effect on the location and particle size of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). A preferential deposition of AuNPs with a narrow size distribution was formed on the lateral 101̅0 faces of LDH platelets. Catalytic property evaluation of the resulting Au/LDH samples showed that the conversion of styrene with tert -butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) to styrene oxide (SO) occurred on the AuNPs with particle size of 2−3 nm, mainly deposited on the lateral faces of LDH support.