Synthesis, characterization and catalytic properties of nanocrystaline Y2O3-coated TiO2 in the ethanol dehydration reaction

• Main Authors: Humberto Vieira Fajardo, Elson Longo, Edson Roberto Leite, Rafael Libanori, Luiz Fernando Dias Probst, Neftalí Lenin Villarreal Carreño
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Associação Brasileira de Metalurgia e Materiais (ABM); Associação Brasileira de Cerâmica (ABC); Associação Brasileira de Polímeros (ABPol) 2012-04-01
• Series: Materials Research
• Subjects: catalysis; surface modifications; titania; coating
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-14392012000200018

In the present study, TiO2 nanopowder was partially coated with Y2O3 precursors generated by a sol-gel modified route. The system of nanocoated particles formed an ultra thin structure on the TiO2 surfaces. The modified nanoparticles were characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Zeta potential and surface area through N2 fisisorption measurements. Bioethanol dehydration was used as a probe reaction to investigate the modifications on the nanoparticles surface. The process led to the obtainment of nanoparticles with important surface characteristics and catalytic behavior in the bioethanol dehydration reaction, with improved activity and particular selectivity in comparison to their non-coated analogs. The ethylene production was disfavored and selectivity toward acetaldehyde, hydrogen and ethane increased over modified nanoparticles.