Thermal and spectroscopic studies of feasibility of rhodium acetate versuschloride as a likely precursor for Rh degrees metal catalysts

The thermal decomposition courses of rhodium acetate, Rh(CH3COO)(2), and ch loride, RhCl3.3H(2)O, have been studied in hydrogen and nitrogen atmosphere s, using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetr y (DSC) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). It was found that Rh acetate and ch loride are similarly reduced to Rh degrees metal particles on heating near 120 degrees C in H-2 atmosphere. In N-2 atmosphere, however, Rh acetate is reductively decomposed at 300-400 degrees C to give Rh degrees metal partic les, whereas Rh chloride is not decomposed into metal particles until the t emperature is well above 800 degrees C. Therefore, Rh acetate could be a be tter precursor compound for Rh metal catalysts, for its lower demand of hea t supply than Rh chloride. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv ed.