An Effect of Preparation Temperature on the Structure and Reactivity of Supported Ni–Cu Bimetallic Nanoparticles in Benzyl Phenyl Ether Hydrogenolysis

A set of four H‐ZSM‐5‐supported Ni–Cu‐containing materials with 5% Ni‐1% Cu loadings was prepared. The effect of using different reduction protocols (non‐reduced reference; H 2 reduction at T red. : 300; 400 and 500 °C) during the materials’ preparation was monitored to investigate the effect of this parameter on their microstructural features and their catalytic properties in a hydrogenolysis reaction. The variation of the reduction temperature has a direct effect on the composition and thus the separation of Ni atoms within the bimetallic nanoparticles and this in‐turn affects their reactivities for the hydrogenolysis of benzyl phenyl ether (a lignin model compound). Alloy Cu/Ni‐containing nanoparticles (confirmed by p‐XRD) prepared by reduction at 400 °C containing relatively more separated Ni atoms (observed using transmission electron microscopy ‐ energy dispersive x‐ray spectroscopy (TEM‐EDX)) were found to be more active in the reaction of interest than catalysts prepared using a reduction at 500 °C which had higher Ni contents (but lower Ni within particle separations).