High Efficiency Cu-ZnO Hydrogenation Catalyst: The Tailoring of Cu-ZnO Interface Sites by Molecular Layer Deposition

Bin Zhang, Yao Chen, Jianwei Li, Eckhard Pippel, Huimin Yang, Zhe Gao, Yong Qin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

110 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper describes a molecular layer deposition (MLD)-assisted route for the preparation of Cu-ZnO catalysts used in the hydrogenation of levulinic acid to produce γ-valerolactone. A Cu precursor supported on multiwalled carbon nanotubes was coated with Zn-polyurea organic-inorganic hybrid films via MLD first, and the catalyst was obtained after calcination and reduction under mild conditions. The produced catalysts exhibited remarkably enhanced selectivity, efficiency, and stability due to the created Cu-ZnO interface sites (Cu0Zn) and the cooperative effect between Cu0Zn and Cu+. The ratio of Cu0Zn sites could be simply modified by changing the MLD cycle number. The correlation between catalytic activity and the ratio of different Cu species (Cu0Zn, Cu0, and Cu+) suggests that Cu0Zn is the main active site and responsible for the remarkably enhancing catalytic activity and low apparent activation energy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5567-5573
Number of pages7
JournalACS Catalysis
Volume5
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - 17 Aug 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cu-ZnO interface
  • hydrogenation
  • molecular layer deposition
  • nanocatalysts
  • nanoparticles
  • Zn-organic-inorganic hybrid film

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