Geometrical effect of CuO nanostructures on catalytic benzene combustion

CuO nanostructures of different morphologies were synthesized and compared for catalytic benzene combustion. XRD patterns of various CuO nano-crystallites suggest the monoclinic CuO structure. The dominant crystal planes of various CuO nanostructures are identified by means of HRTEM and electron diffraction. The amount of oxygen adspecies was found to be strongly dependent on the orientation of crystal planes. The activity of benzene combustion over major crystal planes of CuO nanostructures is: (200) > (111) > (011) > (001), consistent with the order of the corresponding density of terminate Cu ²⁺ ions on which both benzene and oxygen are activated.