Sol immobilization technique: a delicate balance between activity, selectivity and stability of gold catalysts

Sol immobilization is a widely used method to prepare gold catalysts. The presence of the protective layer can have a significant influence on catalyst properties by mediating metal-support and reactant-metal interactions. This paper details the effect of a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) protecting group on the activity of a supported gold catalyst as well as its selectivity towards glycerol oxidation.