Abstract: The reduction and oxidation character of Pd-CuO/TiO_2 catalyst has been investigated, exploring, the effect of semiconductor support TiO_2 and metal Pd, using Pd-CuO/Al_2O_3 as a comparing system.
By means of TPR, it was shown that Cue supported on TiO_2 was much more readily reduced than that on Al_2O_3 and without support. The temperatures of the respective reduction peak for Cue were ca.200, 265 and 285 ℃. If as low as 0.3 wt.% of Pd was present, then the reduction peak of Cue on TiO_2 was further shifted to below 100 ℃ while that on Al_2O_3 was hardly changed.
The TPO spectra of catalyst sample pre-reduced by H_2 at 250 ℃ demonstrated the different behavior of supports TiO_2 and Al_2O_3 as well in correlation with XRD pattern, it revealed CuO on TiO_2 may be oxidized stepwise much more readily, i.e. Cu~0→Cu~+→Cu~(++), in contrast with the resistance to oxidation of CuO on Al_2O_3.
These results could be explained by that TiO_2 as n-type semiconductor oxide can easily provide n-type defect, Ti~(3+) or oxygen vacancy, which might play the role of relay for charge transfer. Particularly in presence of noble metal, H_2 being strongly activated, the action of n-type defect was effectively enhaned so that the charge trasition between components was promoted. Thus the reduction and oxidation of CuO_x could proceed smoothly on TiO_2 but not so as it was supported on Al_2O_3.