Characterization of Nano-Crystalline Nickel Supported Zirconia and its Catalytic Activity of Hydrogenation of Nitrophenol

Mesoporous zirconia was prepared by the surfactant assisted route, using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as cationic surfactant. The synthesized zirconia was employed as support for nickel catalysts in reduction reaction of nitrophenol at room temperature. The catalysts were characterized by nitrogen adsorption-desorption, X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier-transfer infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmittance electron micrograph (TEM), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS), temperature programmed reduction (TPR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The nitrogen adsorption-desorption studies revealed that the modified samples retain the mesoporosity.