Structural and hydrogen temperature programmed reduction properties of MCM-41 supported copper oxide catalysts

MCM-41 supported copper oxide catalysts were prepared by four different methods: impregnation, incorporation, modification, and ion-exchange. The reducibility and structure characteristics of the supported copper oxide catalysts were revealed and determined with hydrogen temperature programmed reduction, X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscope. Results show that the reduction temperature of copper oxide, when supported in the pore channels or in the framework of MCM-41, are decreased for more than 200°C as compared to unsupported copper oxide. Ion-exchanged samples show higher reductivity as compared to materials obtained by the impregnation and the incorporation methods. It is expected that highly dispersed copper oxide in the pore channels of well ordered MCM-41 structure has a wide potential application in the advanced catalytic field.