TPR and XPS study of cobalt–copper mixed oxide catalysts: evidence of a strong Co–Cu interaction

Abstract

In this work the results of a TPR and XPS investigation of Co_xO_y–CuO mixed oxides in the range of composition Co : Cu=100:0–8:92 are reported and compared. The final catalysts were obtained by thermal decomposition in air and N₂ at 723 K for 24 h of single‐phase cobalt–copper hydroxycarbonates prepared by coprecipitation at constant pH. The Co : Cu=100 : 0 specimen calcined in air formed the Co²⁺[Co³]₂O₄ (Co₃O₄) spinel phase. The copper‐containing catalysts (Co : Cu=85 : 15–8 : 92) showed mainly two phases: (i) spinels, like Co²⁺[Co³⁺]₂O₄, Co ²⁺_1-x Cu ²⁺_x [Co³⁺]₂O₄ and (ii) pure CuO, the relative amount of each phase depending on the Co : Cu atomic ratio. The results of the XPS study are consistent with the bulk findings and revealed the presence of Co²⁺, Co³⁺ and Cu²⁺ species at the catalyst surface. Moreover, the surface quantitative analysis evidenced a cobalt enrichment, in particular for the most diluted cobalt samples. The TPR study showed that the catalyst reduction is affected by a strong mutual influence between cobalt and copper. The reducibility of the mixed oxide catalysts was always promoted with respect to that of the pure Co₃O₄ and CuO phases and the reduction of cobalt was markedly enhanced by the presence of copper. Cobalt and copper were both reduced to metals regardless of the catalyst composition. On the other hand, the Co : Cu=100 : 0 specimen calcined in N₂ formed, as expected, CoO. The initial addition of copper resulted in the formation of the Cu⁺Co³⁺O₂ compound, besides CoO, up to a Co/Cu=1 atomic ratio at which the CuCoO₂ phase was the main component. A further addition of copper led to the formation of CuCoO₂ and CuO phases. The XPS results were in good agreement with these findings and the surface quantitative analysis revealed a less enrichment of cobalt with respect to the catalysts calcined in air. The TPR analysis confirmed that the reduction of the N₂‐calcined catalysts was also remarkably promoted by the presence of copper. Also in this case cobalt and copper metal were the final products of reduction.