In this study we investigate the active nature of nano-scaled gold supported on ZnO and CeO2 'nano-shapes' for the decomposition, oxidation and steam reforming of methanol. Gold clusters (<1 nm) were dispersed on the {110} faces of CeO2 nanorods, however nanoparticles (~3 nm) were observed on the {100} surfaces of CeO2 nanocubes. Gold nanoparticles (~1-2 nm) were observed to bind selectively on the {0001} planes of ZnO nanorods, though it was not determined if sub-nanometer particles were present. On the basis of TPSR/MS analysis it was proposed that surface oxygen supplied by ZnO is responsible for low temperature (30-80� C) production of methyl formate on Au-ZnO; even in the presence of oxygen this affect is not observed for Au-CeO2. In the presence of H2O both catalysts are better than 95% selective to CO2 under 250� C, and have similar apparent activation energies in the range of ~ 110-120 kJ/mol. 

Surface oxygen promoted reactions of methanol over gold supported on ZnO and CeO<sub>2</sub> "nano-shapes"

240th National Meeting (2010)

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