In Situ Spectroscopic Characterization of Ni<sub>1–<i>x</i></sub>Zn<sub><i>x</i></sub>/ZnO Catalysts and
Their Selectivity for Acetylene Semihydrogenation in Excess Ethylene
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Abstract
The structures of ZnO-supported Ni
catalysts were explored with
in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy, temperature-programmed reduction,
X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy
(HRTEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy, and electron energy
loss spectroscopy. Calcination of nickel nitrate on a nanoparticulate
ZnO support at 450 °C results in the formation of Zn-doped NiO
(ca. Ni<sub>0.85</sub>Zn<sub>0.15</sub>O) nanoparticles with the rock
salt crystal structure. Subsequent in situ reduction monitored by
X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) at the Ni K edge reveals
a direct transformation of the Zn-doped NiO nanoparticles to a face-centered
cubic alloy, Ni<sub>1–<i>x</i></sub>Zn<sub><i>x</i></sub>, at ∼400 °C with <i>x</i> increasing
with increasing temperature. Both in situ XANES and ex situ HRTEM
provide evidence for intermetallic β<sub>1</sub>-NiZn formation
at ∼550 °C. In comparison to a Ni/SiO<sub>2</sub> catalyst,
Ni/ZnO necessitates a higher temperature for the reduction of Ni<sup>II</sup> to Ni<sup>0</sup>, which highlights the strong interaction
between Ni and the ZnO support. The catalytic activity for acetylene
removal from an ethylene feed stream is decreased by a factor of 20
on Ni/ZnO in comparison to Ni/SiO<sub>2</sub>. The decrease in catalytic
activity of Ni/ZnO is accompanied by a reduced absolute selectivity
to ethylene. H–D exchange measurements demonstrate a reduced
ability of Ni/ZnO to dissociate hydrogen in comparison to Ni/SiO<sub>2</sub>. These results of the catalytic experiments suggest that
the catalytic properties are controlled, in part, by the zinc oxide
support and stress the importance of reporting absolute ethylene selectivity
for the catalytic semihydrogenation of acetylene in excess ethylene