title: Preparation, microstructure characterization and catalytic performance of Cu/ZnO and ZnO/Cu composite nanoparticles for liquid phase methanol synthesis.
abstract: Stearate@Cu/ZnO nanocomposite particles with molar ratios of ZnO ∶ Cu = 2 and 5 are synthesized by reduction of the metal-organic Cu precursor [Cu{(OCH(CH(3))CH(2)N(CH(3))(2))}(2)] in the presence of stearate@ZnO nanoparticles. In the case of ZnO ∶ Cu = 5, high-angle annular dark field-scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) combined with electron-energy-loss-spectroscopy (EELS) as well as attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy are used to localize the small amount of Cu deposited on the surface of 3-5 nm sized stearate@ZnO particles. For ZnO ∶ Cu = 2, the microstructure of the nanocomposites after catalytic activity testing is characterized by HAADF-STEM techniques. This reveals the construction of large Cu nanoparticles (20-50 nm) decorated by small ZnO nanoparticles (3-5 nm). The catalytic activity of both composites for the synthesis of methanol from syn gas is evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Anorganische Chemie II, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Universitätstrasse 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Mahmoud A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sliem
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heeskens
authors.forename: Suresh Babu
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kalidindi
authors.forename: Gustaaf
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van Tendeloo
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muhler
authors.forename: Roland A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Fischer