A. Zecchina

Spectroscopic Characterization of Silicalite and Titanium-Silicalite

Surface characterization of silicalite and titanium-silicalite is made by combined use of IR and UV-Vis reflectance spectroscopy. The nature of the IR modes and of the electronic transitions associated with framework titanium is discussed in detail. The perturbation caused by the adsorption of small polar molecules (H 2 O, NH 3 , CH 3 OH) on both the IR and UV-Vis spectra is discussed in terms of the formation of six-coordinated complexes by ligand insertion in the Ti(IV) coordination sphere. All the Ti(IV) is accessible to the interaction with the molecules.

DRS UV-VIS AND EPR SPECTROSCOPY OF HYDROPEROXO AND SUPEROXO COMPLEXES IN TITANIUM SILICALITE

The most important spectroscopic features in the UV-Vis of framework and extraframework Ti(IV) in titanium silicalite are briefly summarized. The spectroscopic manifestations of the complexes formed by framework Ti(IV) in presence of H2O2 are reported. The formation of EPR active species is also considered.

Electronic and vibrational properties of a MOF-5 metal–organic framework: ZnO quantum dot behaviour

UV-Vis DRS and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, combined with excitation selective Raman spectroscopy, allow us to understand the main optical and vibrational properties of a metal-organic MOF-5 framework. A O(2-)Zn(2+)[rightward arrow] O(-)Zn(+) ligand to metal charge transfer transition (LMCT) at 350 nm, testifies that the Zn(4)O(13) cluster behaves as a ZnO quantum dot (QD). The organic part acts as a photon antenna able to efficiently transfer the energy to the inorganic ZnO-like QD part, where an intense emission at 525 nm occurs.

Low-temperature Fourier-transform infrared investigation of the interaction of CO with nanosized ZSM5 and silicalite

Nanosized ZSM5 zeolites with microcrystal dimensions in the 20–120 nm range have been characterized by means of IR spectroscopy and HRTEM microscopy. The vibrational spectrum of the OH groups on the external and internal surfaces of H-ZSM5 and Na-ZSM5 samples of different crystallite dimensions has been investigated. For the sake of comparison the spectra of silicalite samples containing different concentrations of sodium and aluminium are also shown. For this purpose high-purity silicalite samples were prepared following a novel synthesis route.Carbon monoxide (a very weak Lewis base) was used to probe the acidity present on the external and internal surfaces of the zeolites through formation of 1 : 1 adducts with silanols (both internal and external), Bronsted-acid groups (both framework and extraframework), Na+ ions, and Lewis Al3+ centres (in extraframework and framework positions). The IR-active CO stretching modes of the complexes are shifted to higher wavenumber with respect to the free molecule; the positive shift can be used to estimate the acid strength. CO that was physically adsorbed in the zeolite channels has also been investigated.

Cu(I)-ZSM-5 zeolites prepared by reaction of H-ZSM-5 with gaseous CuCl: Spectroscopic characterization and reactivity towards carbon monoxide and nitric oxide☆

Abstract The strongly acidic Bronsted sites of H-ZSM-5 can be quantitatively exchanged with monovalent copper ions by reaction with CuCl at 573 K, as evidenced by the disappearance of the characteristic IR bands of bridged OH groups. Characterization of the Cu-ZSM-5 samples prepared following this route by means of UV-Vis-NIR (diffuse reflectance) and photoluminescence spectroscopies confirms that the protons are substituted by Cu+ ions, which are isolated and located in a few, structurally well defined sites easily accessible to ligand molecules. These Cu+ ions are highly coordinatively unsaturated and can form Cu+ (CO)n (n=1, 2 or 3) carbonylic and Cu+ (NO)n (n=1 or 2) nitrosylic complexes upon dosage of carbon monoxide or nitric oxide at 77 K. The Cu+ (NO)2 dinytrosylic complexes are unstable at room temperature and evolve with formation of nitrous oxide, NO2− and oxidized CuIINO species. This behaviour strongly supports the hypothesis that a redox mechanism is operating in the nitric oxide decomposition reaction leading to nitrogen and oxygen.

FOURIER-TRANSFORM INFRARED AND RAMAN SPECTRA OF PURE AND AL-, B-, TI- AND FE-SUBSTITUTED SILICALITES : STRETCHING-MODE REGION

A systematic investigation of the IR and Raman spectra of pure and Al-, B-, Ti- and Fe-substituted silicalites in the SiO stretching region (1500–700 cm–1) is presented. As well as the characteristic stretching modes of the skeleton, silicalites containing hydroxylated nests show also broad bands at ca. 960 cm–1(IR) and at ca. 976 cm–1(Raman), associated with O3Si—OH group modes, with prevailing Si—OH stretching character. The replacement of Si with heavier elements (like Ti or Fe) causes the appearance of new IR- and Raman-active modes (i) at 960 cm–1(IR and Raman) and at 1127 cm–1(Raman) in Ti silicalite; (ii) at 1015 cm–1(IR) and at 1020 cm–1(Raman) in Fe silicalite. Neither the Raman nor the IR spectra of the skeletal modes are substantially modified by the introduction of Al (ZSM5). The presence of boron induces the appearance in the IR spectra of a complex absorption at 1380 cm–1 and at 960–930 cm–1, which corresponds to the absorptions at 1417 and 976 cm–1 in the Raman spectra. The assignment of the absorptions associated with heteroatoms and hydroxylated nests is discussed in detail.

Structural characterization of Ti centres in Ti-silicalite and reaction mechanisms in cyclohexanone ammoximation

Abstract The main results obtained by means of many physical methods (IR, Raman, UV-Vis and XAFS spectroscopies) concerning the structure of the Ti centre in titanium silicalite and the reaction intermediates in the ammoximation of cyclohexanone are concisely reviewed. The Ti is in tetrahedral coordination in vacuo and expands its coordination sphere upon interaction with adsorbates. In the presence of H2O and H2O/H2O2 solutions one of the SiOTi bridges is hydrolyzed with formation of (SiO)3L2TiOH (LH2O) and (SiO)3L2TiOOH species, respectively. When NH3 is dosed on (SiO)3L2TiOOH structures (SiO)3L2TiOO−NH4+ species are formed. These species are thought to play an important role in the ammoximation reaction. The geometries of the peroxidic species (open or bridged) are discussed also on the basis of ab initio calculations.

Framework and Extraframework Ti in Titanium-Silicalite: Investigation by Means of Physical Methods

Abstract The application of UV-Vis diffuse reflectance, IR transmission, Raman and ESR spectroscopies to the determination of extraframework and framework Ti in Titanium-silicalite is discussed in detail. The four methods give complementary information. In particular the utility of the UV-Vis and Raman spectroscopies to detect extraframework Ti is definitely established, while IR proves to be more useful for framework Ti. ESR spectroscopy can be also utilized on reduced samples to distinguish between the two types of Ti.

Determination of the oxidation and coordination state of copper on different Cu-based catalysts by XANES spectroscopy in situ or in operando conditions

The use of XANES spectroscopy, both in classical and in dispersive geometries, is illustrated for the study of copper-based catalysts under in situ or in operando conditions. As case studies, copper-exchanged MFI zeolites and CuCl2/γ-Al2O3 systems are considered. In the former case, in situ XANES spectroscopy was used to characterise well defined complexes (Cu+N2, Cu+(CO)3, Cu+(NH3)(CO) and Cu+(NO)2) formed on copper ions inside the zeolite cavities under controlled conditions. From these results, useful information concerning the symmetry of the formed complexes can readily be gained. The latter case shows how the use of dispersive XANES spectroscopy allows to follow, in real time, the evolution of a system in working conditions. The simultaneous determination of the catalyst activity and of the average oxidation state of copper in the catalyst allows the evolution of a system in working conditions to be followed in real time. The criteria used for the quantification of the Cu(I) and Cu(II) fraction from XANES spectra are discussed in detail.

Hydroxyls nests in defective silicalites and strained structures derived upon dehydroxylation: vibrational properties and theoretical modelling

Defective silicalite, an efficient and selective catalyst in the gas phase Beckmann rearrangement reaction, has been characterised by infrared spectroscopy and by molecular modelling techniques. We report a detailed IR study on the effect of outgassing treatments at increasing temperature on silanols bands and on framework modes. The effect of a temperature decrease up to 100 K (during the IR measurement) on the H-bonding interactions has also been investigated. The interaction of silanols with mesitylene, a probe molecule which cannot penetrate the channels, has been studied in order to distinguish between internal and external OH groups. Molecular mechanics and ab initio methods have also been used to model the structure and the vibrational features of a properly designed nest in order to support the assignments of the IR spectrum.