Effect of the metal–support interaction on the activity and selectivity of methanol oxidation over Au supported on mesoporous oxides

To elucidate the factors affecting the catalytic properties of supported Au catalysts on the metal oxide support we investigated Au NPs deposited on crystallized mesoporous transition-metal oxides (m-oxides: Co3O4, NiO, and α-Fe2O3) prepared using the nanocasting method. The metal-oxide interaction in Au/mesoporous oxides resulted in higher catalytic activity for converting methanol to CO2 as a full oxidation product than pure m-oxides. Au/m-Fe2O3 exhibited high activity and low selectivity for methyl formate as a partial oxidative coupling product. We correlate the change in activity and selectivity with the interface between the Au and m-oxides.