Characterization and thermal stability of ruthenium nanoparticles supported on γ-alumina

Ru/γ-Al2O3 catalyst of 1.1% was prepared by reduction of RuCl3 in ethylene glycol using a microwave-assisted solvothermal method. Structure of the as-prepared and heated in H2 at 500–700 °C catalyst samples was studied by XPS, BET, XRD and HRTEM techniques. The catalyst dispersion was determined by various chemisorption techniques and agreement between them was reasonable. The dispersion of fresh catalyst decreased slightly from 0.53 to 0.49 by hydrogen treatment at 700 °C, and good correspondence with HRTEM data was obtained. Results indicate on high stability of the Ru nanoparticles in the low-loaded colloidal Ru/γ-Al2O3 catalyst under reducing conditions.