Lloyd Rhys W. Investigations on Sulfated Zirconia Model Systems: from Nanocrystalline Thin Films to Rational Design of Powder Catalysts

Model systems of the alkane skeletal isomerisation catalyst sulfated zirconia were successfully produced via a range of different preparation techniques. The model systems were investigated with various techniques, including thermal desorption, photoelectron, X-ray absorption and IR spectroscopies. Electrically and thermally conducting thin films of sulfated zirconia were prepared on oxidised silicon wafers, in order to allow the application of surface science techniques. Thermal treatment of the films was optimised to chemically mimic the powder process, resulting in films possessing the essential features (including tetragonal phase, nanocrystallinity and sulfur content of ~3 atomic %) of active powder catalysts.