Sample controlled thermal analysis - Temperature programmed reduction of bulk and supported copper oxide

The reduction of bulk and supported copper oxide was investigated using Con stant Rate-Temperature Programmed Reduction (CR-TPR) and conventional linea r heating rate TPR. Linear hearing profiles indicated that the reduction of supported samples was more facile than that of the bulk oxide. CRTA result s revealed that both supported and bulk oxide samples were reduced via a me chanism involving a nucleation step and/or auto-catalysis. The increased re ducibility of the supported samples is attributed to a higher dispersion wh ich provides a larger reactive surface area and a high concentration of def ects at which reduction is initiated.