A series of CuZnAlSi bifunctional catalysts with different SiO2 contents were prepared by a complete liquid phase method

and the catalysts were characterized by using in-situ XPS

XRD

BET and NH3-TPD. The catalytic performance was evaluated in a slurry reactor. Based on these results

it was deduced that SiO2 in the CuZnAlSi catalyst could interact with AlOOH resulting in the change of some physicochemical properties

such as the pore structure and surface acidity

thus the catalytic activity for DME synthesis has got improved. It was found from the in-situ XPS characterization that the surface active species for the methanol synthesis in the process of DME production is composed by the reduced Cu0 species and ZnO. However

the stability of the catalyst decreased owing to the introduction of SiO2

which may due to a lower interaction among the components of Cu

Zn and Al.