A straightforward and reliable method was successfully developed for
stainless steel microreactor coating. The importance of this coating
method lies in using an already pre-prepared Au/Al₂O₃
catalyst without incorporation of any binders, addressing the
importance of the interplay between the catalyst particle size and
slurry viscosity in optimization of the uniformity, stability and
thickness of the coating layers. The catalyst and the coated
microplatelets were characterized thoroughly using nitrogen adsorption,
X-ray Diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Scanning
Electron Microscopy, confocal microscopy, laser diffraction, viscosity
measurements, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Energy-dispersive X-ray,
Inductively Coupled Plasma- Optical Emission Spectrometry and X-ray
Photoelectron Spectroscopy. Moreover, stability of the coating layers
was assessed in gas phase partial oxidation of ethanol. Initial increase
in the catalyst activity with time on stream was likely due to changes
in the gold oxidation state while minor catalyst deactivation could
mainly be correlated with coking.