Reducibility of Al³⁺-Modified Co₃O₄: Influence of Aluminum Distribution

The reduction of Co-based oxides doped with Al³⁺ ions has been studied using in situ XRD and TPR techniques. Al³⁺-modified Co₃O₄ oxides with the Al mole fraction Al/(Co + Al) = 1/6; 1/7.5 were prepared via coprecipitation, with further calcination at 500 and 850 °C. Using XRD and HAADF-STEM combined with EDS element mapping, the Al³⁺ cations were dissolved in the Co₃O₄ lattice; however, the cation distribution differed and depended on the calcination temperature. Heating at 500 °C led to the formation of an inhomogeneous (Co,Al)₃O₄ solid solution; further treatment at 850 °C provoked the partial decomposition of mixed Co-Al oxides and the formation of particles with an Al-depleted interior and Al-enriched surface. It has been shown that the reduction of cobalt oxide by hydrogen occurs via the following transformations: (Co,Al)₃O₄ → (Co,Al)O → Co. Depending on the Al distribution, the course of reduction changes. In the case of the inhomogeneous (Co,Al)₃O₄ solid solution, Al stabilizes intermediate Co(II)-Al(III) oxides during reduction. When Al³⁺ ions are predominantly on the surface of the Co₃O₄ particles, the intermediate compound consists of Al-depleted and Al-enriched Co(II)-Al(III) oxides, which are reduced independently. Different distributions of elemental Co and Al in mixed oxides simulate different types of the interaction phase in Co₃O₄/γ-Al₂O₃-supported catalysts. These changes in the reduction properties can significantly affect the state of an active component of the Co-based catalysts.