Highly efficient and stable bicomponent cobalt oxide-copper catalysts for dehydrogenation

Cu/Co3O4-ZrO2 catalyst was synthesized by a simple co-precipitation method, and its self-oxidation behavior after reduction reduced the particle size of Co3O4. Cu/Co3O4-ZrO2 demonstrated a high performance during the dehydrogenation of diethanolamine, reaching a 96% yield of iminodiacetic in 30 min. The catalyst was characterized by XRD, XPS, TEM, SEM, and H2-TPR. The results showed that strong Cu-oxide interactions, the co-catalysis of biactive components, and the higher number of oxygen vacancies of Cu/Co3O4-ZrO2 were responsible for the enhanced catalytic activity during diethanolamine dehydrogenation. Co3O4 particles improved the dispersion and stability of Cu NPs and inhibited the sintering of loaded Cu NPs.