Synthesis of Mixed Nickel-Aluminum Oxides and a Study of Their Catalytic Activity

Abstract

In this work, we studied the phase composition and structure of the mixed oxide obtained from a layered Ni-Al double hydroxide (Ni:Al = 3:1). The hydroxide obtained by precipitation from a solution of nickel and aluminum nitrates has a hexagonal crystal lattice with crystallite diameter 7 nm. The crystallite diameter was reduced to 4 nm after roasting of this hydroxide at 500°C. The crystallites consist of octahedral layers and a slight amount spine/ structure. The products of the cracking of normal alkanes in the presence of this mixed Ni-Al oxide feature an increased amount of their low-boiling homologs and branched alkanes.