Dependence of the preparation method on the phase composition and particle size of the binary NiO–ZrO₂ system oxides

Was studied how preparation method influences phase composition, oxide particle size and catalytic activity of the binary NiO–ZrO₂ systems. The processes taking place under the thermal influence while NiO–ZrO₂ catalysts are formed from precursors, obtained using a variety of methods, were determinated using the methods of simultaneous TGA-DTG/DSC analysis and XFA. Was studied the influence of the precursor preparation method upon the catalysts' phase composition, sizes of the nickel oxide and zirconium dioxide particles. The research revealed that preparation of precursor using coprecipitation method makes it possible to obtain a binary system, where nickel oxide has minimal size, determined by CSR, and monoclinic phase prevails in ZrO₂, after heating it to 800 °C. The research unearthed that the catalyst exhibiting maximal catalytic activity by deep oxidation of methane is nickel oxide-zirconium dioxide, containing equal amounts of monoclinic and tetragonal phases of ZrO₂.