Structures of platinum and chromium
supported on zeolite beta were investigated by XAFS, XPS, UV–vis,
NH3-TPD, XRD, CO chemisorption, and molecular dynamics
simulation. Both platinum and chromium were uniformly dispersed in
the micropore of zeolite beta. Loading of chromium helped platinum
to disperse highly and stabilized in the micropore of beta. Major
species of platinum on PtCr/beta after calcination at 773 K was Pt2+ forming a Pt–O bond. The Pt–O bond disappeared,
and a Pt–Pt bond did not appear by reducing PtCr/beta in hydrogen,
accompanying formation of Pt0. Chromium was loaded as chromate
anion in the micropore of zeolite. Results of molecular dynamics simulation
showed that Pt2+ associated with CrO4
2– in the micropore of zeolite beta was more stable than those in the
absence of chromium species. We concluded that CrO4
2– electrostatically stabilizes Pt2+ and
inhibits migration and aggregation of platinum.