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Role of Exposed Surfaces on Zinc Oxide Nanostructures in the Catalytic Ethanol Transformation
Author(s) -
Morales María V.,
AsedegbegaNieto Esther,
IglesiasJuez Ana,
RodríguezRamos Inmaculada,
GuerreroRuiz Antonio
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201500425
Subject(s) - catalysis , zinc , acetaldehyde , yield (engineering) , thermal decomposition , microemulsion , ethanol , chemical engineering , decomposition , precipitation , chemistry , inorganic chemistry , materials science , nanostructure , oxide , dehydration , organic chemistry , nanotechnology , metallurgy , pulmonary surfactant , biochemistry , physics , meteorology , engineering
For a series of nanometric ZnO materials, the relationship between their morphological and surface functionalities and their catalytic properties in the selective decomposition of ethanol to yield acetaldehyde was explored. Six ZnO solids were prepared by a microemulsion‐precipitation method and the thermal decomposition of different precursors and compared with a commercial sample. All these materials were characterized intensively by XRD and SEM to obtain their morphological specificities. Additionally, surface area determinations and IR spectroscopy were used to detect differences in the surface properties. The density of acid surface sites was determined quantitatively using an isopropanol dehydration test. Based on these characterization studies and on the results of the catalytic tests, it has been established that ZnO basal surfaces seem to be responsible for the production of ethylene as a minor product as well as for secondary reactions that yield acetyl acetate. Furthermore, one specific type of exposed hydroxyl groups appears to govern the surface catalytic properties.