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CuO/ZnO Nanoparticles in a Matrix of Amorphous Silica as High‐Surface Precursors for Methanol Synthesis
Author(s) -
Rohe Bernd,
Weiss Rainer,
Vukojević Sascha,
Baltes Christian,
Muhler Martin,
Tausch Michael,
Epple Matthias
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
european journal of inorganic chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.667
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1099-0682
pISSN - 1434-1948
DOI - 10.1002/ejic.200601084
Subject(s) - methanol , chemistry , nanocrystalline material , catalysis , silane , amorphous solid , nanoparticle , precipitation , hydroxide , chemical engineering , silanes , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , crystallography , physics , meteorology , engineering
An intimate mixture of CuO/ZnO nanocrystals was prepared by an easy sol‐gel synthesis (precipitation in methanol by hydroxide in the presence of a silane). The organic substituents of the silane were almost completely removed by a subsequent photochemical oxidation. The resulting amorphous SiO 2 prevented the growth of the catalytically active particles to larger crystals. The coating layer of silica can easily be penetrated by gaseous reactants, as shown by the high specific surface area of about 110–130 m 2 g –1 (probably due to both silica and nanocrystalline CuO/ZnO) and the good catalytic activity in methanol synthesis from CO/CO 2 /H 2 synthesis gas (7 to 37 %, compared to an industrial standard methanol catalyst). The ratio of CuO to ZnO can be easily varied by the used preparation method. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)