Catalytic synthesis of methanol from CO/H/sub 2/. II. Electron microscopy (TEM, STEM, microdiffraction, and energy dispersive analysis) of the Cu/ZnO and Cu/ZnO/Cr/sub 2/O/sub 3/ catalysts

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · J. Catal.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6071272

Mehta, S; Simmons, G W; Klier, K; Herman, R G

Transmission electron microscopy of the Cu/ZnO and Cu/ZnO/Cr/sub 2/O/sub 3/ methanol synthesis catalysts was used to characterize the dispersions of CuO, ZnO, and Cr/sub 2/O/sub 3/ in the calcined catalysts and Cu metal, ZnO, and Cr/sub 2/O/sub 3/ in the reduced and used catalysts. All components were found to have morphologies of their independently existing dispersions except Zn, which appeared as a network of thin crystallites at Cu concentrations of 30% and less and as well-developed individual hexagonal platelets at higher Cu concentrations. The hexagonal platelets morphology was probably induced by epitaxial growth of ZnO on Cu/sub 2/(OH)/sub 3/ during calcination. Microdiffraction in the scanning transmission electron microscope and selected area diffraction in the transmission electron microscope showed that the network of ZnO crystallites had the hexagonal crystal axis parallel to their major surface plane and the platelet ZnO particles had the hexagonal crystal axis perpendiclar to the platelet plane. Quantitative elemental analyses of the individual particles in the composite catalysts were carried out by characteritic x-ray emission in the energy dispersive mode. It was found that both ZnO morphologies in the reduced Cu/ZnO catalysts contained up to 12% copper and in the Cu/ZnO/Cr/sub 2/O/sub 3/ catalysts up to 16% copper accompanied by Cr(III). These results were interpreted as a dissolution of copper in ZnO in the form of Cu(I) that was assisted by the presence of a trialent ion. The Cu(I)/ZnO solution, which was earlier found to have characteristic optical absorption in the near infrared, was proposed to be the active component of the low pressure methanol synthesis catalysts.

• Research Organization: Lehigh Univ., Bethlehem, PA
• OSTI ID: 6071272
• Journal Information: J. Catal.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Catal.; (United States) Vol. 57:3; ISSN JCTLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

090221* -- Alcohol Fuels-- Chemical Synthesis-- (1976-1989)
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
ALCOHOLS
CALCINATION
CATALYSTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHROMIUM COMPOUNDS
CHROMIUM OXIDES
COPPER
DECOMPOSITION
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
METALS
METHANOL
MICROSCOPY
MORPHOLOGY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PYROLYSIS
REDUCTION
SYNTHESIS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
ZINC COMPOUNDS
ZINC OXIDES