Insights into influence of nanoparticle size and metal-support interactions of Cu/ZnO catalysts on activity for furfural hydrogenation

• Published in: Catalysis science & technology Vol. 7; no. 23; pp. 5625 - 5634
• Main Authors: Yang, Xiaohai, Chen, Hongmei, Meng, Qingwei, Zheng, Hongyan, Zhu, Yulei, Li, Yong Wang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Royal Society of Chemistry 2017
• Subjects: Catalysis; Catalysts; Catalytic activity; Copper; Furfural; Furfuryl alcohol; Hydrogenation; Nanoparticles; Nitrous oxide; Titration; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy; Zinc oxide
• ISSN: 2044-4753; 2044-4761
• DOI: 10.1039/c7cy01284e

Cu/ZnO catalysts primarily derived from aurichalcite with Cu/Zn = 0.4-1.1 (mol/mol) were prepared via "decreased pH" coprecipitation method and introduced in hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol. The "precursor effect" was clearly confirmed and the catalyst with a Cu/Zn = 0.8 provided the best conversion and TOF. Catalysts were characterized via XRD, FT-IR, N 2 O titration, TEM, H 2 -TPR, XPS and AES. The size of Cu nanoparticles and Cu-ZnO interactions were systematically investigated and were found to remarkably influence catalytic activity of the catalysts. Consequently, the best catalytic performance for the catalyst with Cu/Zn = 0.8 was due to the suitable Cu particle size (8 nm) and strong metal-support interactions (SMSI), acting as the Cu-ZnO synergy. Cu/ZnO catalysts primarily derived from aurichalcite with Cu/Zn = 0.4-1.1 (mol/mol) were prepared via "decreased pH" coprecipitation method and introduced in hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol.