Premium
Activating a Cu/ZnO : Al Catalyst – Much More than Reduction: Decomposition, Self‐Doping and Polymorphism
Author(s) -
Frei Elias,
Gaur Abhijeet,
Lichtenberg Henning,
Heine Christian,
Friedrich Matthias,
Greiner Mark,
Lunkenbein Thomas,
Grunwaldt JanDierk,
Schlögl Robert
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.201900069
Subject(s) - x ray absorption spectroscopy , catalysis , dopant , materials science , absorption spectroscopy , thermal stability , inorganic chemistry , thermal decomposition , doping , heterogeneous catalysis , chemical engineering , reducing atmosphere , redox , in situ , chemistry , metallurgy , organic chemistry , optoelectronics , engineering , physics , quantum mechanics
The activation of Cu/ZnO‐based catalysts before their application is a key step and sensitive process enabling the development of the entire catalytic potential. Here, we report on a complementary (soft and hard) in‐situ X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) study investigating in detail the changes of a Cu/ZnO : Al catalyst upon thermal treatment in reducing atmosphere (10 % H 2 ) at ambient pressure. The spectroscopic features of Cu, Zn and Al are investigated. Beyond the reduction event of the Cu moieties, the role of high temperature carbonate and the Al‐dopant is discussed up to the consequences for the ZnO polymorphism. The stability of the observed effects and thus their catalytic relevance are validated by operando XAS under reverse water gas‐shift conditions.