Highly Dispersed Cu Nanoparticles Prepared Using Ammonia Evaporation Method

The most common method for the synthesis of copper‐containing supported catalysts is impregnation of the support with a copper salt solution. However, calcination and reduction of the resulting materials can lead to agglomeration of copper species and a decrease in catalytic activity. The synthesis of highly dispersed copper particles on the support surface can be performed using ammonia evaporation method with a copper ammine complex as a precursor. This review considers the effect of copper loading and the support nature on the structure of the obtained catalysts with a focus on the benefits of the ammonia evaporation method for preparation of the Cu/SiO ₂ catalysts compared to other methods. This review summarizes the results concerning influence of the synthesis conditions of the ammonia evaporation method on the morphology and structure of Cu‐based catalysts. The effect of ammonia evaporation temperature and solution pH on copper dispersion, copper particle size, and reducibility of the Cu‐based catalysts is also included. The morphology of the silica support and the particle size of the silica sol have impact on the formation of copper phyllosilicate in the Cu/SiO ₂ catalysts.