Interaction of hydrogen with model Cu-Zn methanol synthesis catalyst prepared by decomposition of mixed hydroxicarbonate is studied by inelastic neutron scattering, in situ FTIR/MS, and thermal analysis. Reduced (Cu _0.08,Zn_0.92)O mixed oxide accumulates 6H/Cu, mainly as hydride, hydroxyl and formate species. The reduction of copper in the (Cu,Zn)O mixed oxide occurs via a reversible redox interaction with H₂ and absorption of protons as OH^--groups with ν = 3250 cm^-1 and δ ≈ 1430-1480 cm^-1. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of this process are evaluated. The weight loss during the reduction is due to the decomposition of the residual carbonate groups to CO₂ via formate intermediates, which occurs in the presence of hydrogen. Exposure of (Cu,Zn)O to air prior to the reduction strongly affects the kinetic parameters of the reduction process.

The reduction of copper chromite, CuCr₂O₄, is followed by means of thermogravimetric analysis. The reduced state is studied by means of FT IR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and inelastic neutron scattering. The reduction of copper occurs in two stages: absorption of hydrogen at 250-400 °C and dehydration of the reduced state at above 450 °C. The measured vibrational spectra prove that a considerable amount of hydrogen is absorbed by the oxide structure with absorbed protons stabilized in OH and HOH-groups (geminal protons). Three groups of vibration bands are observed in the INS spectra, which can be assigned to stretching, bending and libration vibrations. An increase in the reduction temperature of copper chromite results in softening of the stretching and hardening of the bending vibrations, what can be related to the strengthening of hydrogen bonding.