Comparative analysis of the composition, structure, and catalytic activity of the NiO-CuO-TiO2 on Titanium and NiO-CuO-Al2O3 on aluminum composites

The catalytically active oxide structures based on Al and Ti prepared by plasma-electrolytic oxidation (PEO) and additionally modified by impregnation with an aqueous solution of nickel and copper nitrates followed by annealing were studied. The oxide film-metal composites were studied using X-ray diffraction and X-ray spectroscopic analysis, X-ray electron spectroscopy, and electron microscopy. The catalytic activity of the composites in the reaction of CO oxidation was studied. In spite of differences in the elemental composition and morphology, the initial oxide layers on Al and Ti were comparable in terms of activity. Microgranules of size similar to 1 A mu m and formations from tens to hundreds of nanometers in size were detected on the surface of PEO layers. The modified layers contained crystalline CuO, NiO, and Al2O3 or TiO2 phases. The surface layers of the modified structures about 3 nm in thickness on AMg5 aluminum alloy and VT1-0 titanium had the same elemental composition but exhibited different activity in the reaction of CO oxidation to CO2.