High catalytic activity of NiOsingle bondZrO2 modified with WO3 for ethylene dimerization Original Research Article

A series of catalysts, NiOsingle bondZrO2/WO3, for ethylene dimerization were prepared by coprecipitation from the solution of nickel chloride-zirconium oxychloride mixture followed by modifying with ammonium metatungstate. On the basis of the results obtained from X-ray diffraction and DSC, the addition of NiO and WO3 to ZrO2 shifted the transition of ZrO2 from amorphous to tetragonal phase towards higher temperatures due to the interaction between NiO (or WO3) and ZrO2. NiOsingle bondZrO2 without WO3 was inactive for the ethylene dimerization, but NiOsingle bondZrO2/WO3 was found to be very active even at room temperature. The high catalytic activity of NiOsingle bondZrO2/WO3 was closely correlated with the increase of acidity and acid strength due to the addition of WO3.