Abstract: In this paper, a new way to increase the specific surface areas of supported catalysts has been suggested. The results for MoO_3/ZrO_2, WO_3/ZrO_2, CuO/ZrO_2, SO_4~(2-)/ZrO_2, NiO/ZrO_2, Fe_2O_3/ZrO_2, Fe_2(SO_4)_3/ZrO_2, MoO_3/TiO_2, WO_3/TiO_2, SO_4~(2-)/TiO_2, NiSO_4/TiO_2, NiO/TiO_2, V_2O_5/TiO_2 etc. systems show that the specific surface areas of the samples, prepared by impregnating some hydroxides then calcinating at high temperature, are much larger than those of the samples prepared with a traditional method——impregnating their oxides calcinated at the same temperature. Using this way, the specific surface areas of some supported catalysts can increase by several times. The surface areas of some supports such as zirconia and titania are not large enough, and they are easy to sinter at high temperature. In these cases, the advantage of of this preparation method is fully displayed, and the specific surface areas of the resulting zirconia-or titania-supported catalysts can compare favourably with those of the catalysts prepared from some classical supports (such ar γ-Al_2O_3, SiO_2).
In addition, it has been proved by means of XPS, XRD, LRS, and DTA that as an active component disperse on a support as a monolayer and its content comes up to its monolayer dispersion capacity, the specific surface area of the obtained catalyst would be the largest. We suggest a mechanism that an active component covered on a support can not only segregate its particles, but also hinder the surface diffusion of support, and as a result, its crystalline growth, an accompanying phase transformation and inter-crystalline sintering are all retarded.

Key words: Increase in specific surface area, Supported catalyst, Monolyer dispersion, ZrO₂, TiO₂