Phenol hydroxylation over cubic/monoclinic mixed phase CuO nanoparticles prepared by chemical vapor deposition

Abstract

CuO/SiO2 catalysts were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition, and the resulting supported CuO nanoparticles with loadings of 0.2–2 mmol/g are mixed phases of monoclinic and cubic CuO, and highly dispersed on the substrate SiO2 with an average particle size around 4 nm. An interaction between CuO and the support is confirmed by FT-IR and more surface acidity is generated due to a loading of CuO on the support. The prepared CuO/SiO2 catalysts exhibit a much higher dispersion degree of CuO than those by impregnation, and thus much better catalytic performances in phenol hydroxylation to catechol and hydroquinone.