Cu+l(Si02/A1203), Cu+/A1203 and Cu+/Si02 catalysts were prepared by a combination of the ion-exchange method and thermovacuum treatment. In-situ XANES and EXAFS investigations of the catalysts have revealed that Cu+ ions are anchored onto Alz03 or SiO2 as planar 3-coordinate Cu+, while being anchored onto SiOz/A1203 as linear 2-coordinate Cu+. Photoluminescence measurements of the catalysts and...

Copper-based catalysts are industrially applied in various reactions including water-gas shift, synthesis of fatty alcohols from fatty acid methyl esters, and methanol synthesis. Today, methanol is produced at low pressures (35-55 bar) and 200-300°C over Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts. Due to the great commercial relevance, Cu/ZnO-based catalysts have been extensively studied and many different models ...

CeO2 nanooctahedrons, nanorods, and nanocubes were prepared by the hydrothermal method and were then used as supports of Cu-based catalysts for the water-gas shift (WGS) reaction. The chemical and physical properties of these catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N2 adsorption/desorption, UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectro...

Non–noble metal catalysts have recently emerged as promising alternatives to the expensive platinum catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). In this study, a new domain of materials, copper based coordination polymers, has been investigated as promising catalysts for ORR. The study was inspired by copper incorporating biomolecules, which efficiently catalyse the oxygen reduction react...

Cu–Zn/γ–Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by the impregnation method. Catalytic activity was evaluated for N2O decomposition in a fixed bed reactor. The fresh and used catalysts were characterized by several techniques such as BET surface area, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The Cu–Zn/γ–Al2O3 catalysts exhibit high activity and stability for N2O decomposition in mi...

Iron-based catalysts were prepared by using promoters (K, Ru, Cu) and synthesis and activation protocols that inhibit sintering of oxide precursors and favor the nucleation of small Fe carbide crystallites. The effects of promoters on reduction/carburization behavior, on Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) rates, and on the number of CO binding sites formed during reaction were examined by combinin...

Catalysts for the oxidation of H2O are an integral component of solar energy to fuel conversion technologies. Although catalysts based on scarce and precious metals have been recognized as efficient catalysts for H2O oxidation, catalysts composed of inexpensive and earth-abundant element(s) are essential for realizing economically viable energy conversion technologies. This Perspective summariz...

The catalytic decomposition of N2O was investigated over Cu-Zn/ZnAl2O4 catalysts in the temperature range of 400–650 ◦C Catalytic samples have been prepared by wet impregnation method. Prepared catalysts were characterized using several techniques like BET surface area, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The Cu-Zn/ZnAl2O4 showed higher catalytic performance along w...

Nanostructured Cu(x)Zn(1-x)Al(2)O(4) with a Cu:Zn ratio of ¼:¾ has been prepared by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis at 150 °C and used as a precursor for Cu/ZnO/Al(2)O(3)-based catalysts. The spinel nanoparticles exhibit an average size of approximately 5 nm and a high specific surface area (above 250 m(2) g(-1)). Cu nanoparticles of an average size of 3.3 nm can be formed by reduct...

Cu/x-SiO2 catalysts with 4, 10, and 20 nm silica sols as supports was produced by ammonia evaporation method and characterized. Different nano-sized silica sols as supports significantly affected the structure and catalytic properties of the copper catalysts for ethylene glycol synthesis from dimethyl oxalate. Compared with Cu/20-SiO2 and Cu/4-SiO2 catalysts, the catalytic performance and stabi...