Surface Characterization and NO+CO Reaction Activity of Rolled Cu Foil

Abstract

Correlation between surface microstructure changes and catalytic property in the NO+CO reaction over rolled copper foil was investigated. The reaction characteristics (improvement of activity in hysteresis) of the rolled copper foil were significantly different from those of conventional supported copper catalysts. Comparing the surface structure of the rolled copper foil before and after the reaction, roughening of grain boundaries became more pronounced after the reaction, and also the surface roughening state varied depending on the crystal orientation. Experimental results on the surface reactivity of the rolled copper foil with NO or CO revealed that the cause of the roughening is mainly oxidation by NO. Consequently, the activity was improved because the roughened portion with microfacets (e.g., grain boundaries) formed by the redox process during the NO+CO reaction play an important role as the reaction sites.