(566c) Sulfated ZrO2 Supported On Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT)

In this paper, we discuss the synthesis of a composite of ZrO₂ nanoparticles supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). Using X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), the ZrO₂ particles were found to be 2-3 nm tetragonal crystalline nanoparticles. Strong interfacial interaction between the ZrO₂ nanoparticles and the MWCNT surface was observed by near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (NEXAFS) at the carbon K-edge and the oxygen K-edge, and this strong metal-oxide/support interaction leads to small ZrO₂ particle size with both thermal stability (to 750°C) and hydrothermal stability (to 200°C in liquid water). The ZrO₂/MWCNT was converted into a solid acid catalyst by sulfation and the properties of S-ZrO₂/MWCNT were studied by X-ray absorption and catalytic probe reaction(s). The nature of its acid sites was probed by S K-edge and Zr L-edges (L_I, L_II, L_III) XANES and catalytic cracking of cyclohexane. Such composites good candidates for potential catalysis applications in fuel cell electrodes and biomass processing.