Maxence Valla

NMR signatures of the active sites in Sn-β zeolite.

Dynamic nuclear polarization surface enhanced NMR (DNP-SENS), Mössbauer spectroscopy, and computational chemistry were combined to obtain structural information on the active-site speciation in Sn-β zeolite. This approach unambiguously shows the presence of framework Sn(IV)-active sites in an octahedral environment, which probably correspond to so-called open and closed sites, respectively (namely, tin bound to three or four siloxy groups of the zeolite framework).

Atomic Description of the Interface between Silica and Alumina in Aluminosilicates through Dynamic Nuclear Polarization Surface-Enhanced NMR Spectroscopy and First-Principles Calculations

Despite the widespread use of amorphous aluminosilicates (ASA) in various industrial catalysts, the nature of the interface between silica and alumina and the atomic structure of the catalytically active sites are still subject to debate. Here, by the use of dynamic nuclear polarization surface enhanced NMR spectroscopy (DNP SENS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we show that on silica and alumina surfaces, molecular aluminum and silicon precursors are, respectively, preferentially grafted on sites that enable the formation of Al(IV) and Si(IV) interfacial sites. We also link the genesis of Brønsted acidity to the surface coverage of aluminum and silicon on silica and alumina, respectively.

Unraveling the Core–Shell Structure of Ligand-Capped Sn/SnOx Nanoparticles by Surface-Enhanced Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Mössbauer, and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopies

A particularly difficult challenge in the chemistry of nanomaterials is the detailed structural and chemical analysis of multicomponent nano-objects. This is especially true for the determination of spatially resolved information. In this study, we demonstrate that dynamic nuclear polarization surface-enhanced solid-state NMR spectroscopy (DNP-SENS), which provides selective and enhanced NMR signal collection from the (near) surface regions of a sample, can be used to resolve the core-shell structure of a nanoparticle. Li-ion anode materials, monodisperse 10-20 nm large tin nanoparticles covered with a ∼3 nm thick layer of native oxides, were used in this case study. DNP-SENS selectively enhanced the weak 119Sn NMR signal of the amorphous surface SnO2 layer. Mössbauer and X-ray absorption spectroscopies identified a subsurface SnO phase and quantified the atomic fractions of both oxides. Finally, temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction measurements were used to probe the metallic β-Sn core and indicated that even after 8 months of storage at 255 K there are no signs of conversion of the metallic β-Sn core into a brittle semiconducting α-phase, a phase transition which normally occurs in bulk tin at 286 K (13 °C). Taken together, these results indicate that Sn/SnOx nanoparticles have core/shell1/shell2 structure of Sn/SnO/SnO2 phases. The study suggests that DNP-SENS experiments can be carried on many types of uniform colloidal nanomaterials containing NMR-active nuclei, in the presence of either hydrophilic (ion-capped surfaces) or hydrophobic (capping ligands with long hydrocarbon chains) surface functionalities.

Cooperativity between Al Sites Promotes Hydrogen Transfer and Carbon–Carbon Bond Formation upon Dimethyl Ether Activation on Alumina

The methanol-to-olefin (MTO) process allows the conversion of methanol/dimethyl ether into olefins on acidic zeolites via the so-called hydrocarbon pool mechanism. However, the site and mechanism of formation of the first carbon–carbon bond are still a matter of debate. Here, we show that the Lewis acidic Al sites on the 110 facet of γ-Al2O3 can readily activate dimethyl ether to yield CH4, alkenes, and surface formate species according to spectroscopic studies combined with a computational approach. The carbon–carbon forming step as well as the formation of methane and surface formate involves a transient oxonium ion intermediate, generated by a hydrogen transfer between surface methoxy species and coordinated methanol on adjacent Al sites. These results indicate that extra framework Al centers in acidic zeolites, which are associated with alumina, can play a key role in the formation of the first carbon–carbon bond, the initiation step of the industrial MTO process.

Role of Tricoordinate Al Sites in CH3ReO3/Al2O3 Olefin Metathesis Catalysts.

Re2O7 supported on γ-alumina is an alkene metathesis catalyst active at room temperature, compatible with functional groups, but the exact structures of the active sites are unknown. Using CH3ReO3/Al2O3 as a model for Re2O7/Al2O3, we show through a combination of reactivity studies, in situ solid-state NMR, and an extensive series of DFT calculations, that μ-methylene structures (Al-CH2-ReO3-Al) containing a Re═O bound to a tricoordinated Al (AlIII) and CH2 bound to a four-coordinated Al (AlIVb) are the precursors of the most active sites for olefin metathesis. The resting state of CH3ReO3/Al2O3 is a distribution of μ-methylene species formed by the activation of the C-H bond of CH3ReO3 on different surface Al-O sites. In situ reaction with ethylene results in the formation of Re metallacycle intermediates, which were studied in detail through a combination of solid-state NMR experiments, using labeled ethylene, and DFT calculations. In particular, we were able to distinguish between metallacycles in TBP (trigonal-bipyramidal) and SP (square-pyramidal) geometry, the latter being inactive and detrimental to catalytic activity. The SP sites are more likely to be formed on other Al sites (AlIVa/AlIVa). Experimentally, the activity of CH3ReO3/Al2O3 depends on the activation temperature of alumina; catalysts activated at or above 500 °C contain more active sites than those activated at 300 °C. We show that the dependence of catalytic activity on the Al2O3 activation temperature is related to the quantity of available AlIII-defect sites and adsorbed H2O.

Switching on the Metathesis Activity of Re Oxo Alkylidene Surface Sites through a Tailor‐Made Silica–Alumina Support

Re oxo alkylidene surface species are putative active sites in classical heterogeneous Re-based alkene-metathesis catalysts. However, the lack of evidence for such species questions their existence and/or relevance as reaction intermediates. Using Re(O)(=CH-CH=CPh2)(OtBuF6)3(THF), the corresponding well-defined Re oxo alkylidene surface species can be generated on both silica and silica-alumina supports. While inactive on the silica support, it displays very good activity, even for functionalized olefins, on the silica-alumina support.

MeReO3/Al2O3 and Me4Sn-activated Re2O7/Al2O3 alkene metathesis catalysts have similar active sites

We studied the solid-state NMR signatures of Re2O7/Al2O3 activated with Me4Sn (Me4Sn/Re2O7/Al2O3), a heterogeneous alkene metathesis catalyst. These studies showed that the activation step with SnMe4 generates μ-methylene Al-CH2ReO3 species, similar to the intermediates observed in MeReO3/Al2O3. The μ-methylene species probably forms through the in situ generation of MeReO3. These results establish the role of Me4Sn in this oxide-based heterogeneous catalyst and explain why Me4Sn/Re2O7/Al2O3 has a reactivity profile more similar to MeReO3/Al2O3 than parent Re2O7/Al2O3.

Elucidation of the reaction mechanism upon lithiation and delithiation of Cu0.5TiOPO4

The reaction mechanism of Cu0.5TiOPO4 upon lithiation and delithiation was elucidated by XAS, 31P-NMR, XRD, EDX, and electrochemical methods. The material reacts with a combined insertion and conversion process, in which first copper is extruded irreversibly by forming LiTiOPO4. Afterwards, Ti4+ is reduced reversibly in an insertion reaction followed by a conversion reaction. The conversion reaction leads to amorphization of the sample while titanium is reduced to oxidation states below 2+.