Synthesis of nanocrystalline alumina by thermal decomposition of aluminum isopropoxide in 1-butanol and their applications as cobalt catalyst support

Abstract

Nanocrystalline alumina powders were prepared by thermal decomposition of aluminum isopropoxide (AIP) in 1-butanol at 300 °C for 2 h and employed as cobalt catalyst supports. The crystallization of alumina was found to be influenced by the concentration of AIP in the solution. At low AIP content, wrinkled sheets-link structure of γ-Al2O3 was formed, while at high AIP concentrations, fine spherical particles of χ-Al2O3 were obtained. It was found that using these fine particles alumina as cobalt catalyst supports resulted in much higher amounts of cobalt active sites measured by H2 chemisorption and higher CO hydrogenation activities.