III International Conference

PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NANOSTRUCTUREDSULFATED ZIRCONIASPP-III-97Lutecki M., Breitkopf C.Institut für Technische Chemie, Universität Leipzig, Linnestr. 3, 04103 Leipzig, GermanyE-mail: loeffler@chemie.uni-leipzig.deSulfated zirconia is considered to be a promising catalyst for the isomerization of alkanes.There are several factors which contribute to the activity of the catalyst including the natureand the amount of sulfate groups, acidity as well as structural properties like crystallinity andmorphology.As most of the metal oxides, sulfated zirconia exhibits a sponge-like disorderedmesostructure. In order to better understand the influence of structural properties on thecatalytic activity, a preparation of catalysts with well-defined and predictable structures isnecessary. One possible stategy is the use of surfactants as structure directing agents.In this study, sulfated zirconia samples were prepared with the help of templates varyingin molecular weight (Pluronic P123, Brij-56, CTAB) and characterized with the techniquesmostly suitable for the investigation of structures on micro- and nano-scale (SEM, TEM,XRD, nitrogen adsorption). Small angle reflection (Fig. 1) as well as TEM images (Fig. 2)confirmed the ordered mesostructure of sulfated zirconias. Additionally, the influence of thecalcination temperature on the stability of materials is discussed. Subsequently, samples weretested for the catalytic activity in the n-butane isomerization reaction.300025002000arb. units1500100050001 2 3 4 5 6 72 thetaFig.1 Small angle XRD of the sampletemplated with CTABFig.2 TEM image of the sample templatedwith CTAB649