Spreading of Cobalt Phase and Silicate Formation in Co/SiO2 Model Catalyst

The electron microscopy technique was used to characterize the cobalt–silica interaction in a model catalyst at high temperature in air. The samples were in the form of thin cobalt films (1 and 4 nm thick) supported on an amorphous layer of SiO₂. It was concluded that cobalt loading determines the evolution of the microstructure, morphology and phase composition. The spreading of the cobalt oxide phase and formation of cobalt silicate was established.