Comparison of the Structural Configuration of Cobalt Nanoparticles on Titania and Titania Nanotube Supports

In this study, two cobalt based catalyst samples were prepared on titania and titania nanotubes supports using the deposition precipitation method. Their structural configurations were characterized and compared using BET, and TRP analyses. The BET analysis showed that the surface area of TiO2 is much higher than that of TNT which was due to their structural differences. Analyses of the results obtained revealed that the surface area of the 10 % Co/TNT catalyst sample is higher than that of the 10 % Co/TiO2. The TPR analysis showed that it is much easier to reduce 10 % Co/TiO2, than 10 % Co/TNT. This is attributed to be due to the fact that the cobalt particles were adsorbed on the surface of the TiO2, and formed covalent bonds with TNT. Therefore reduction temperature was higher with TNT than TiO2. The investigation of structural changes of these catalysts when they were coated with carbon, using chemical vapour deposition method was also conducted. The catalyst prepared on TNT support showed better properties in terms of average pore diameter, pore volume and surface area than the catalyst sample prepared on TiO 2 support when the two samples were exposed to carbon environment for the same period of time.