FTIR study of CO adsorption on coked Pt–Sn/Al2O3 catalysts

Infrared spectra of adsorbed CO have been used as a probe to monitor changes in Pt site character induced by the coking of Pt/Al₂O₃ and Pt–Sn/Al₂O₃ catalysts by heat treatment in heptane/hydrogen. Four distinguishable types of Pt site for the linear adsorption of CO on Pt/Al₂O₃ were poisoned to different extents showing the heterogeneity of the exposed Pt atoms. The lowest coordination Pt atoms (ν(CO) < 2030 cm⁻¹) were unpoisoned whereas the highest coordination sites in large ensembles of Pt atoms (2080 cm⁻¹) were highly poisoned, as were sites of intermediate coordination (2030–2060 cm⁻¹). Sites in smaller two‐dimensional ensembles of Pt atoms (2060–2065 cm⁻¹) were partially poisoned, as were sites for the adsorption of CO in a bridging configuration. The addition of Sn blocked the lowest coordination sites and destroyed large ensembles of Pt by a geometric dilution effect. The poisoning of other sites by coke was impeded by Sn, this effect being magnified for Cl‐containing catalyst. Oxidation or oxychlorination of coked catalyst at 823 K followed by reduction completely removed coke from the catalyst surfaces. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

From Electron Density Flow Towards Activation: Benzene Interacting with Cu(I) and Ag(I) Sites in ZSM-5. DFT Modeling

The effects of support pretreatment with nC₁–C₅ alcohols on the performance of Rh–Mn–Li/SiO₂ catalyst in the synthesis of C₂-oxygenates from syngas have been investigated by CO hydrogenation reaction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), pulse adsorption of CO and H₂, and Fourier Transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The catalysts prepared from the pretreated silica supports exhibited higher space time yields of C₂-oxygenates (STY_C2-oxy) and selectivities towards C₂-oxygenates (S_C2-oxy) than that prepared from the untreated silica support. The enhancement in the hydrophobicity of the pretreated silica supports would be favorable for increasing Rh dispersion and ratio of Rh⁺/Rh⁰ sites, therefore increasing the number of active sites, especially the active sites for CO insertion. Such variations are responsible for the improvements in the catalytic performance of the Rh–Mn–Li/SiO₂ catalyst.     

Aluminum distribution in high-silica mordenite

The Al distribution in high-silica mordenite (MOR) zeolites with various Si/Al ratios was investigated by FT-IR spectroscopy in the presence of CD₃CN probe molecules and benzene adsorption. Two adsorption bands assigned to CN stretching vibration were observed at 2280–2295 and ≈2315 cm⁻¹, which are due to interaction of CN with acidic hydroxyl groups in the main channels and the side pockets of H-MOR zeolite, respectively. The relative intensity of the peak at 2315 cm⁻¹ increased with an increase in the Si/Al ratio, indicating that the proportion of Al atoms in the main channels relatively decreased with the Si/Al ratio. This was confirmed from the linear relationship between the number of benzene molecules adsorbed in a unit cell and the number of Al atoms in the main channels. In addition, this was also suggested from the computer simulation result that Al atoms are preferentially sitting in the T₃ site.     

Analysis of oxidation states of vanadium in vanadia–titania catalysts by the IR spectra of adsorbed NO

Adsorption of NO on vanadia–titania samples pre-subjected to different reduction treatments has been studied by FTIR spectroscopy. When the NO adsorption is performed at 85 K on oxidized samples, antisymmetric NONO species, typical for V⁵⁺ sites, are detected and characterized by bands at 1779 and 1686 cm⁻¹. At ambient temperature, however, adsorption is negligible and only with time reactive adsorption occurs producing NO⁺ (2120 cm⁻¹), nitro/nitrato species (bands in the 1650–1100 cm⁻¹ region) and weakly adsorbed NO (broad band at 1915 cm⁻¹). Adsorption of NO at ambient temperature on reduced samples results in the formation of two types of species: (i) V⁴⁺(NO)₂ dinitrosyls characterized by ν_s(NO) and ν_as(NO) at 1903–1880 and 1769–1753 cm⁻¹, respectively, and (ii) V³⁺(NO)₂ complexes, which give rise to ν_s(NO) at 1834–1822 cm⁻¹ and ν_as(NO) at 1697–1685 cm⁻¹. At low temperature the dinitrosyls are transformed into species in which more than one (NO)₂ dimer is attached to one cationic site. Addition of O₂ to NO, preadsorbed on reduced vanadia–titania samples, results in a fast oxidation of the V³⁺(NO)₂ species, whereas the V⁴⁺(NO)₂ complexes are more stable and do not disappear completely in the presence of oxygen. The results obtained suggest that NO is a convenient probe molecule for the analysis of the oxidation state of vanadium in vanadia–titania catalysts. To prevent oxidation of reduced vanadium sites, low equilibrium pressures of NO and registration of the IR spectrum soon after the NO admission are recommended. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A Fourier-transform infrared study of CO2 and CO2/H2 interactions with caesium-doped copper catalysts

FTIR spectra are reported of CO₂ and CO₂/H₂ on a silica-supported caesium-doped copper catalyst. Adsorption of CO₂ on a “caesium”/silica surface resulted in the formation of CO₂ ⁻ and complexed CO species. Exposure of CO₂ to a caesium-doped reduced copper catalyst produced not only these species but also two forms of adsorbed carboxylate giving bands at 1550, 1510, 1365 and 1345 cm⁻¹. Reaction of carboxylate species with hydrogen at 388 K gave formate species on copper and caesium oxide in addition to methoxy groups associated with caesium oxide. Methoxy species were not detected on undoped copper catalyst suggesting that caesium may be a promoter for the methanol synthesis reaction. Methanol decomposition on a caesium-doped copper catalyst produced a small number of formate species on copper and caesium oxide. Methoxy groups on caesium oxide decomposed to CO and H₂, and subsequent reaction between CO and adsorbed oxygen resulted in carboxylate formation. Methoxy species located at interfacial sites appeared to exhibit unusual adsorption properties.     

CO Poisoning of Ethylene Hydrogenation over Pt Catalysts: A Comparison of Pt(111) Single Crystal and Pt Nanoparticle Activities

The ethylene hydrogenation reaction was studied on two platinum model catalyst systems in the presence of carbon monoxide to examine poisoning effects. The catalysts were a Pt(111) single crystal and lithographically fabricated platinum nanoparticles deposited on alumina. Gas chromatographic results for Pt(111) show that CO adsorption reduces the turnover rate from 10¹ to 10^-2 molecules/Pt site/s at 413 K, and the activation energy for hydrogenation on the poisoned surface becomes 20.2 ± 0.1 kcal/mol. The activation energy for ethylene hydrogenation over Pt(111) in the absence of CO is 10.8 kcal/mol. The Pt nanoparticle system shows the same rate for the reaction as over Pt(111) in the absence of CO. When CO is adsorbed on the Pt nanoparticle array, the rate of the reaction is reduced from 10² to 10⁰ nmol/s at 413 K. However, the activation energy remains largely unchanged. The Pt nanoparticles show an apparent activation energy for ethylene hydrogenation of 10.2 ± 0.2 kcal/mol in the absence of CO and 11.4 ± 0.6 kcal/mol on the CO-poisoned nanoparticle array. This is the first observation of a significant difference in catalytic behavior between Pt(111) and the Pt nanoparticle arrays. It is proposed that the active sites at the oxide--metal interface are responsible for the difference in activation energies for the hydrogenation reaction over the two model platinum catalysts.     

Formation and Migration of NCO Species on Ag/SiO2 Catalyst

The adsorption of HNCO has been investigated on Ag/SiO₂ catalyst by means of FTIR spectroscopy. Adsorption of HNCO on the reduced sample at 190 K produced an absorption band at 2,170 cm⁻¹ attributed to NCO bonded to Ag. Annealing the adsorbed layer under continuous degassing, the 2,170 cm⁻¹ band gradually attenuated and at the same time a spectral feature at 2,300 cm⁻¹ due to Si–NCO developed. From these spectral changes it was inferred that NCO bonded to Ag spilt over onto silica.     

Adsorption/oxidation of CO on highly dispersed Pt catalyst studied by combined electrochemical and ATR-FTIRAS methods: Part 1. ATR-FTIRAS spectra of CO adsorbed on highly dispersed Pt catalyst on carbon black and carbon un-supported Pt black

Elecrochemical ATR-FTIRAS measurements were conducted for the first time to investigate nature of CO adsorbed under potential control on a highly dispersed Pt catalyst with average particle size of 2.6 nm supported on carbon black (Pt/C) and carbon un-supported Pt black catalyst (Pt-B). Each catalyst was uniformly dispersed by 10 μg Pt/cm² and fixed by Nafion^® film of 0.05 μm thick on a gold film chemically deposited on a Si ATR prism window. Adsorption of CO was conducted at 0.05 V on the catalysts in 1 and 100% CO atmospheres, for which CO coverage, θ_CO, was 0.69 and 1, respectively. Two well-defined ν(CO) bands free from band anomalies assigned to atop CO (CO(L)) and symmetrically bridge bonded CO (CO(B)_sym.) were observed. It was newly found that the CO(L) band was spitted into two well-defined peaks, particularly in 1% CO, from very early stage of adsorption, which was interpreted in terms of simultaneous occupation of terrace and step-edge sites, denoted as CO(L)_terrace and CO(L)_edge, respectively. This simultaneous occupation was commonly observed in our work both on Pt/C and Pt-B. A new band was also observed around 1950 cm⁻¹ in addition to the bands of CO(L) and CO(B)_sym., which was assigned to asymmetric bridge CO, CO(B)_asym., adsorbed on (1 0 0) terraces, based on our previous ECSTM observation of CO adsorption structures on (1 0 0) facet. The CO(B)_asym. on the Pt/C, particularly in 100% CO atmosphere, results in growth of a sharp band at 3650 cm⁻¹ accompanied by a concomitant development of a band around 3500 cm⁻¹. The former and the latter are assigned to ν(OH) vibrations of non-hydrogen bonded and hydrogen bonded water molecules adsorbed on Pt, respectively, interpreted in term of results from a bond scission of the existing hydrogen bonded networks by CO(L)s and from a promotion of new hydrogen bonding among water molecules presumably by CO(B)_asym..It was found that the frequency ν(CO) of CO(L) both on Pt/C and Pt-B is lower than that on bulky polycrystalline electrode Pt(poly) or different crystal planes of Pt single-crystal electrodes by 30-40 cm⁻¹ at corresponding potentials, which implies a stronger electronic interaction between CO and Pt nano-particles and/or an increased contribution of step-edge sites on the particles. Determination of the band intensities of CO(L), CO(B)_asym. and CO(B)_sym. has led us to conclude a much higher bridged occupation of sites at Pt nano-particles than Pt(poly) electrodes.     

The adsorption of Sn on Pt(1 1 1) and its influence on CO adsorption as studied by XPS and FTIR

The coverage of Sn on Pt(1 1 1) which is obtained by electrochemical deposition from 5×10⁻⁵ M Sn²⁺ in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ has been determined by XPS for different deposition times. Complete suppression of hydrogen adsorption corresponds to a coverage of ?_max=0.35 (Sn to surface Pt atoms).Co-adsorption of CO with Sn on Pt(1 1 1) has been studied by FTIR spectroscopy. The IR spectra of the stretching vibration of CO can be interpreted in terms of the vibrational signature of the Pt(1 1 1)/CO system and no vibrational bands associated with CO on Sn are detected. At high Sn coverages, the 1840 cm⁻¹ band associated with bridge-bonded CO and the 2070 cm⁻¹ band assigned to on-top CO are present, however, no hollow site adsorption which is characterized by the 1780 cm⁻¹ band is revealed within the resolution of the experiment. This vibrational signature corresponds to a less compressed adlayer compared to the (2×2)-3CO saturation structure on Pt(1 1 1). At lower Sn coverages, signatures from both the compressed and the less compressed CO adlayer structures are seen in the spectra. From earlier structural and electrochemical studies it is known that Sn is adsorbed in 2D islands and influences CO molecules in its neighbourhood electronically. This leads to a disappearance of the IR band from CO adsorbed in the hollow site at high Sn coverages and to higher population of the weakly adsorbed state of CO for all Sn-modified surfaces, i.e. a relative increase of the amount of CO oxidised at low potentials. In addition to this electronic effect, Sn also exerts a co-catalytic effect at low Sn coverages on that part of CO which is adsorbed at a larger distance from Sn due to a bi-functional mechanism. The IR spectra shows for the Sn-modified Pt(1 1 1) surface that the transition from the compressed CO adlayer which is characterized by the hollow site adsorption of CO to the less compressed one which exhibits a characteristic band associated with bridge-bonded CO occurs already at 250 mV instead of 400 mV.     

Studies on cobalt catalyst supported on silica with different pore size for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis

The adsorption and surface reactions of acetonitrile and acetonitrile-oxygen gas mixture were studied on TiO₂-supported Au catalysts at 300–673 K. FTIR spectra show different kinds of molecularly adsorbed CH₃CN:acetonitrile can be bonded to weak Lewis acid sites (2295 cm⁻¹), to strong Lewis acid sites (2337 cm⁻¹) of titania; it can be coordinated linearly through the lone electron pair of the N atom on Au sites and η² (C,N) CH₃CN species can be formed on Au particles. CH₃CN dissociates on Au sites, the resulting CN_(a) can be oxidized in small extent by lattice oxygen and in a greater extent by gaseous oxygen into NCO surface species. The formation of other products (CH₃NH₂, H₂, CO₂, CH₄, C₂H₄ and CO) was demonstrated and discussed.     

The Sites of Molecular and Dissociative Hydrogen Adsorption in High-Silica Zeolites Modified with Zinc Ions. III DRIFT Study of H2 Adsorption by the Zeolites with Different Zinc Content and Si/Al Ratios in the Framework

study of dihydrogen adsorbed at 77K by the zinc-modified hydrogen forms of mordenite and ZSM-5 zeolites with the different Si/Al ratios in the framework indicated the existence of several adsorption sites connected with the modifying zinc ions. The fraction of the sites of the strongest perturbation of adsorbed molecular hydrogen with the H–H stretching frequency of ca. 3930–3950 cm^-1 is the highest at the highest Si/Al ratios of 41 or 80. These sites dissociatively adsorb hydrogen at moderately elevated temperatures. Adsorption of hydrogen with the higher H–H stretching frequency of about 3970–4000 cm^-1 predominates at the lower Si/Al ratios. It does not result in the dissociation of adsorbed molecules. It was concluded that the most active sites are most probably connected with the zinc ions, which compensate two distantly separated negatively charged [AlO₄]^- tetrahedra localized in the adjacent five- or six-membered rings on the walls of the large channels of the pentasil's framework. The sites of the weaker perturbation of adsorbed hydrogen are most probably connected with Zn⁺² ions at the conventional exchangeable cationic positions with two aluminum atoms in the same five- or six-membered ring.     

Ion-dipole interactions between adsorbed CO and support cations in Pt/K-LTL

The adsorption of carbon monoxide on a non-acidic Pt/K-LTL catalyst has been studied by diffuse reflectance and transmission IR spectroscopy. The CO spectrum is strongly dependent on the experimental conditions. Adsorption on the small Pt clusters in the presence of water gives linear-CO bands between 2060 and 1990 cm^–1 and a bridging-CO band around 1800 cm^–1. In the absence of water, the linear bands are red shifted to about 1940 and 1720 cm^–1, respectively. The frequency shift is attributed to an ion-dipole interaction between adsorbed CO and support cations. The ion-dipole interaction is screened by the adsorbed water leading to a smaller red shift in the CO stretching frequency.     

Surface-enhanced IR spectroscopy investigation on the electro-oxidation of CO adlayer at a polycrystalline Pt film electrode in Cl-containing HClO4

The electro-oxidation of CO adlayer on Pt electrode in Cl⁻-containing 0.1 M HClO₄ has been investigated with in situ attenuated-total-reflection surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (ATR-SEIRAS). Two potentials were selected for predosing CO on the Pt electrode: one is in the H-UPD region, i.e., 0.1 V (vs. RHE) and the other is in the double-layer region, i.e., 0.45 V (vs. RHE). The broadening of the prewave and the main peak for the CO oxidation is observed, in addition to the positively shifted oxidation potentials. The spectroelectrochemical data suggest the specific adsorption of Cl⁻ starts at a potential as negative as 0.1 V which may compete with the adsorption of OH at CO-unoccupied sites (including but not limited to defect sites) and/or hinder the diffusion of CO to OH adsorption sites on Pt electrode, slowing down the CO oxidation. This competitive Cl⁻ adsorption at lower potentials disrupts the interfacial free H₂O structure on the top of CO adlayer, signaled by a reduced OH stretching band intensity.     

Quantitative analysis of hydrogen adsorbed on Pt particles on SiO2 in the presence of coadsorbed CO by means of L3-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy

X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectra at the Pt L₃-edge for Pt particles supported on SiO₂ under CO adsorption and CO+H₂ coadsorption were recorded to analyze the amount of adsorbed hydrogen in the coadsorbed state on the Pt particles. Adsorbed CO on the Pt particles revealed a new peak at 6 eV above the Pt L₃-edge in the difference spectra before and after CO adsorption in the coverage range 0.10-0.51. Subsequent adsorption of hydrogen at various coverages on the CO-preadsorbed Pt particles broadened and shifted the peak to the higher energy side. The peak was deconvoluted to two components due to adsorbed hydrogen and CO by a linear least-squares fitting technique. It was found that the fitting coefficient with respect to adsorbed hydrogen was proportional to the amount of adsorbed hydrogen. The XANES difference spectra provide a quantitative analysis method for adsorbed hydrogen on supported Pt particles in the presence of coadsorbates like CO. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Nature of the sites of dissociative adsorption of dihydrogen and light paraffins in ZnHZSM-5 zeolite prepared by incipient wetness impregnation

A DRIFT study of ZnHZSM-5 zeolites with Si/Al ratios of 15 or 41 and a Zn loading of 0.8 wt% revealed a high thermal stability of bridging OH groups that was practically the same as in the pure hydrogen forms. It was concluded that the incipient wetness impregnation of NH₄ZSM-5 zeolite with zinc nitrate and the subsequent high-temperature treatment results only in a minor amount of ion exchange. A considerable part of the modifying zinc forms nanometric ZnO clusters inside the channels of the zeolite. The use of the low-temperature adsorption of dihydrogen as a probe indicated the appearance, after high-temperature vacuum pretreatment, of three different Lewis acid sites connected with coordinatively-unsaturated Zn²⁺ ions. The strongest Lewis sites, with an H–H stretching frequency of adsorbed molecular hydrogen of 3940 cm⁻¹, dissociatively adsorbed hydrogen, methane and propane at both room and elevated temperatures. These sites are represented either by Zn²⁺ ions on the walls of the main channels of the zeolite (α sites according to Mole et al.) or by Lewis-base pairs on the surface of nanometric clusters of zinc oxide. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Co-adsorption of acetone and CO on Cu-ZSM-5: an in situ FTIR study

The adsorption of acetone and its co-adsorption with CO were studied on a solid state ion exchanged Cu-ZSM-5 catalyst using in situ Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The C-O stretching vibrational band of adsorbed acetone at Cu¹⁺ is centered at 1671 cm^-1, red-shifted by 48 cm^-1 in comparison to that in the gas phase. Adsorbed acetone at the Cu¹⁺ site does not eliminate the adsorption of CO onto the same cationic center (and vice-versa); however, the strength of the CO binding is suggested to be weaker to the {Cu[(CH₃)₂CO]}⁺ center than to the adsorbate free Cu¹⁺ site and is manifested by a 28 cm^-1 red-shift in the C-O stretching frequency of adsorbed CO in the former complex in comparison to the latter complex. The position of the C-O stretching vibrational band of adsorbed acetone blue-shifts by about 20 cm^-1 as a result of the presence of CO on the cationic center. The changes in the C-O stretching vibrational frequencies of the absorption features of the two adsorbate molecules can be rationalized by the changes in the electronic environment at the Cu¹⁺ adsorption center. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Synthesis of a novel amphiphilic polymer containing nucleobases in the self-organized nanospheres

A simple strategy to achieve molecular recognition in water is to make the polymers self-organized into nanospheres which could incorporate the functional groups containing hydrogen bonding sites into hydrophobic-lipophilic regions. A novel amphiphilic polymer, Poly(polyoxyethylene-600)-oxy-5-(6-(1-thymine)hexyl)) isophthaloyl (PPETHI), has been synthesized. The PPETHI polymer could self-organize into nanospheres in dilute aqueous solution, which were 150–300 nm in diameter as estimated by SEM. The isophthaloyl with side hexyl thymine of the polymer self-organized into hydrophobic regions and the PEG surrounded it. Molecular recognition between thymine in PPETHI polymer and adenine substrate has been studied by FT-IR. The FT-IR studies demonstrate that C₄=O of thymine has recognized with N-H of adenine through complementary nucleobases. It shows that the typical characteristic band at 3,352 cm⁻¹ of N-H stretching vibration of adenine shifted to 3,373 cm⁻¹ and the band at 1,685 cm⁻¹ of C₄=O of thymine shifted to 1,680 cm⁻¹. To confirm the formation of hydrogen bonds, the N-H band at 3,373 cm⁻¹ and C₄=O band at 1,680 cm⁻¹ have retrieved to 3,312 cm⁻¹ and 1,685 cm⁻¹ respectively upon heating to 115 °C or higher by means of variable temperature FT-IR. The formations of hydrogen-bonds between thymine in the polymer and adenine substrate in nanospheres were confirmed. It could enhance their interaction and loading capacity.     

IRS study of ethylene polymerization catalyst SiO2/MAO/zirconocene

Summary Lewis acidic sites (LAS) of silica, modified with TMA and MAO samples differed by TMA content, have been characterized by IR spectroscopy (CO adsorption as probe molecule at 77 K). Two types of LAS were found on the surface of silica modified with MAO and TMA: M LAS of moderate strength (ν_CO= 2204−2212 cm⁻¹) and weak W LAS (ν_CO= 2194 cm⁻¹). The concentration of these acidic sites has been estimated. It was shown by IRS study Cp₂ZrMe₂ interacts both with W LAS and M LAS. Correlation between the amount of M LAS and the activity of ethylene polymerization has been found. Received: 13 October 1998/Revised version: 10 June 1999/Accepted: 10 June 1999     

Examination of catalytic behavior and origin of the initial transient period for Pt nanoclusters modified with cinchonidine

Nanoclusters prepared by a novel water-free method are compared directly with nanoclusters prepared by the known aqueous preparation as well as conventional Pt/Al₂O₃ for the enantioselective hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate. The catalytic behavior of cinchonidine on colloidal Pt was investigated during ethyl pyruvate hydrogenation in acetic acid under 10 bar of hydrogen at 22 °C with (1 mmol L⁻¹) and without addition of free cinchonidine. The effect of hydrogen pressure, cinchonidine concentration, ethyl pyruvate and catalyst loading on the enantiomeric excess (EE) with time were also studied. Through these studies, we propose that the nature of the observed initial transient period (ITP) for these “quasi-homogeneous” systems may be explained by desorption of the weakly adsorbed tilted “N lone pair bonded” cinchonidine species from the Pt surface due to interaction with hydrogen.