Size effect in CO oxidation over magnesia-supported ZnO nanoparticles

The size effect of ZnO nanoparticles on catalytic activity of ZnO/MgO solids was studied in CO oxidation. We have developed a simple method for preparing supported materials containing ZnO nanoparticles of a controllable size with the same chemical composition, structure, and shape. We revealed that the turnover frequency of CO oxidation on ZnO nanoparticles of variable average radius (2.0–2.3 nm) shows bell-shaped dependence on ZnO nanoparticle size. A dependence of catalytic activity of ZnO nanoparticles on their electronic structure is found. This allows us to explain a maximum in the CO oxidation activity observed for ZnO nanoparticles with the size of about 2.2 nm within the framework of the quantum confinement effect.

.Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (112 K)Download as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights▶ The bell-shaped size dependence of the catalytic activity of magnesia-supported ZnO nanoparticles (2.0–2.3 nm) in CO oxidation was found and explained by the quantum confinement effect.