Mesoporous Ni–Cu/WO_x/ZrO₂ Catalyst with Highly Dispersed WO_x Clusters: Efficient Catalysts for Selective Hydroisomerization of Isobutane to n‑Butane

A series of mesoporous Ni–Cu/WO₃/ZrO₂ (1Ni1Cu/mWZr) was successfully prepared with F127 as a template and used as catalysts for isobutane hydroisomerization to n-butane. The effects of the F127/ZrO₂ molar ratio on the structure were investigated, and the results of characterization indicate that 1Ni1Cu/mWZr-13 has a high surface area (S_BET = 86.96 m²·g^–1). Using 1Ni1Cu/mWZr-13 calcined at 750 °C as a catalyst, the isobutane conversion and selectivity to n-butane were 80.74 and 62.66%, respectively, under optimal conditions. According to the characterization and catalytic activity results, the tungsten oxide of 1Ni1Cu/mWZr-13 calcined at 750 °C with a W surface density of 7.73 atom/nm² was mainly formed by WO_x clusters, and WO_x clusters with strong Brønsted acidity are catalytic active sites for skeletal rearrangement of hydroisomerization. The high activity of 1Ni1Cu/mWZr-13 calcined at 750 °C is attributed to the proper surface acidity sites (696.34 μmol·g^–1) and Brønsted/Lewis ratio (0.35) of 1Ni1Cu/mWZr-13.