Deposition of gold-phosphine complexes

Extensive characterisation studies have been performed with various techniques (XAFS, XPS, 31P CP/MAS-NMR, IR and Raman spectroscopies)13 to characterise Aul after deposition, and its decomposition and conversion into metal particles upon thermal treatment. The transformation of hydroxide supports into oxides was also followed. The amorphous hydroxides contain a larger number of surface hydroxyl groups and surface defects than do the corresponding oxides, and they interact more efficiently with Aul, which dissociates on the surface, releasing the 

The advantage of using a phosphine complex is that it contains no chloride, and the counter-ion is easily decomposed or eliminated. The complex has to be synthesised (not easy or cheap), and nonaqueous solutions are needed, which means that the support must be dehydrated, the solvent dried, and the finished catalyst stored in ampoules sealed under vacuum. 

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