Communications w). This observation clearly proves that other factors, such as the microstructure and the Cu/ZnO interface, have important impacts on catalysis.It can be concluded that the deposition-precipitation and the CVD methods can yield catalysts which are more active than catalysts with similar compositions prepared by the conventional co-precipitation method. In particular, the deposition-precipitation, apart from co-precipitation, proves a convenient and easy-to-handle preparation route in the synthesis of active Cu/ZnO catalysts.
Concluding Remarks and OutlookIn recent years, within our Collaborative Research Center in Bochum it has been possible to provide insights concerning the Cu/ZnO system for methanol synthesis. Detailed kinetic studies under steady-state and unsteady-state conditions were performed, along with the application of physicochemical characterization methods. Thus, in cooperation with inorganic and material chemists, the development of new preparation routes for more efficient methanol synthesis catalysts was possible and a deeper understanding of the working catalyst under operating conditions was achieved.The interaction between Cu and ZnO obviously plays an important role in catalysis under methanol synthesis conditions. Hence, in a rational catalyst design, it is not only the aim to obtain a large Cu surface area, but the Cu/ZnO interface should also be optimized. Further improvement of the above presented deposition-precipitation and CVD methods will be an interesting challenge in future catalyst research and catalyst development.
AcknowledgementThe authors would like to thank the DFG for the generous financial support within the project A1, in the framework of the Sonderforschungsbereich 558 ªMetall-Substrat-Wechselwirkungen in der heterogenen Katalyseº, as well as the other working groups in Bochum and Mülheim involved in this research. Further, we are much obliged to a long standing, fruitful cooperation with the group of Prof. Schlögl at the Fritz-Haber-Institut of the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft.