Nano-colloidal model systems for the industrial methanol synthesis catalyst

Colloidal Cu, Cu/Zn(O) and Cu/Zn(O)/Al(Al₂O₃) systems were developed via pyrolysis and/or hydrogenolysis of the precursors [Cu(OCHMeCH₂NMe₂)₂] (1), [CpCu(PMe₃)], ZnEt₂, ZnCp*₂3 and AlCp*. The colloids were synthesized in hot coordinating solvents or in mesitylene/poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene)oxide and as well without the addition of any stabilizers in hexadecane or sqalane. The catalytic activity of the colloids was tested in a high-pressure stainless steel autoclave connected to a continuous gas supply. The method provided colloidal models for the industrial methanol-synthesis-catalyst and offered novel possibilities to study the so-called strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) effect in heterogeneous catalysis. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 231st ACS National Meeting (Atlanta, GA 3/26-30/2006).