EPR characterization of Cu/Al-Zr-Ce ethanol dehydrogenation catalysts: Active site development and coking control.

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was applied to study structure-performance relationships for copper-containing catalysts based on Al-Zr-Ce mixed oxides with various oxide support synthesis temperature. In situ EPR showed that the state of Cu sites depends on the phase composition of the support, temperature, as well as the presence of the reaction medium during catalysis.