Structural characteristics and reactivity properties of highly dispersed Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}/Si{sub 2} and V{sub 2}O{sub 5}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}/SiO{sub 2} catalysts

Journal Article · Mon May 15 04:00:00 EDT 2000 · Journal of Catalysis

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1006/jcat.2000.2822· OSTI ID:20076091

Gao, X; Wachs, I E

Highly dispersed Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}/SiO{sub 2} and V{sub 2}O{sub 5}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}/SiO{sub 2} catalysts under various conditions (e.g., hydration, dehydration, and methanol chemisorption) were investigated by in situ Raman and UV-vis-NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopies. Temperature-programmed reduction and methanol oxidation were employed as chemical probe reactions to examine the reducibility and reactivity properties of these catalysts. The spectroscopic results revealed that the surface vanadium oxide species on the Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}/SiO{sub 2} supports are predominantly isolated VO{sub 4} units [O = V(O-Support){sub 3}] in the dehydrated state. The surface vanadium oxide species preferentially interact with the aluminum oxide species on the silica surface. Consequently, the reduction behavior of the surface vanadium oxide species is closer to that of V{sub 2}O{sub 5}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} at higher alumina loading. Furthermore, the turnover frequency of the surface VO{sub 4} species on Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}/SiO{sub 2} for methanol oxidation to redox products (formaldehyde, methyl formate, and dimethoxy methane) increases by an order of magnitude relative to the V{sub 2}O{sub 5}/SiO{sub 2} catalysts and is comparable to that of the V{sub 2}O{sub 5}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalysts. It is concluded that the substitution of the Si(IV)-O{sup {minus}} by the less electronegative Al(III)-O{sup {minus}} ligands for the isolated VO{sub 4} units is responsible for the enhanced reactivity of the surface V cations.

• Research Organization: Lehigh Univ., Bethlehem, PA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: National Science Foundation; US Department of Energy
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-93ER14350
• OSTI ID: 20076091
• Journal Information: Journal of Catalysis, Journal Name: Journal of Catalysis Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 192; ISSN 0021-9517; ISSN JCTLA5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
CATALYSTS
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
METHANOL
MORPHOLOGY
OXIDATION
SILICON OXIDES
VANADIUM OXIDES