Abstract
In industrially relevant Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts for methanol synthesis, the strong metal support interaction between Cu and ZnO is known to play a key role. Here we report a detailed chemical transmission electron microscopy study on the nanostructural consequences of the strong metal support interaction in an activated high-performance catalyst. For the first time, clear evidence for the formation of metastable "graphite-like" ZnO layers during reductive activation is provided. The description of this metastable layer might contribute to the understanding of synergistic effects between the components of the Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 4544-4548 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Angewandte Chemie - International Edition |
| Volume | 54 |
| Issue number | 15 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 7 Apr 2015 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- electron microscopy
- energy conversion
- heterogeneous catalysis
- methanol synthesis