Synthesis of Thin-Film CuMnO for Low-Temperature Co Oxidation

Thin films, 0.5- and 1.0-nm thick, of CuMnO were synthesized on γ-AlO using Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD), and their catalytic activities for CO oxidation were measured and compared to that of bulk CuMnO. For bulk CuMnO, the surface area decreased dramatically when the sample was calcined at 1073 K; but the area-specific rates for CO oxidation were the same for bulk samples calcined at 473 K and 1073 K. For thin films of CuMnO on γ-AlO, both the surface area and spinel structure were maintained following oxidation at 1073 K or reduction at 973 K. Area-specific, CO-oxidation rates on the ALD-prepared catalysts were somewhat lower than those found on bulk CuMnO; however, adding an additional ALD cycle of Cu on the CuMnO/γ-AlO increased the rates to the same level as that of the bulk CuMnO