Thermal activation of copper oxide based upon the copper hydrotalcite Cu xZn 6−xAl 2(OH) 16(CO 3)·4H 2O

Abstract

A combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and high resolution DTG coupled to a gas evolution mass spectrometer has been used to study the thermal properties of a series of Cu/Zn hydrotalcites of formulae Cu x Zn 6− x Al 2(OH) 16(CO 3)·4H 2O where x varied from 6 to 0. The effect of increased Zn composition results in the increase of the endotherms and weight loss steps to higher temperatures. Evolved gas mass spectrometry shows that water is lost in a number of steps. The interlayer carbonate anion is lost simultaneously with hydroxyl units. The endotherms and differential weight loss steps were both cation and mole ratio dependent.