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Molecular structure of orthosilicic acid, silanol, and H/sub 3/SiOH x AlH/sub 3/ complex: models of surface hydroxyls in silica and zeolites

Journal Article · · J. Phys. Chem.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/j100293a021· OSTI ID:6540936
Geometries are obtained by gradient methods from nonempirical quantum chemical SCF calculations. The basis set employed (6-31G*) includes d-type polarization functions on both silicon and oxygen atoms. For the minimum-energy structure of orthosilicic acid (belonging to the S/sub 4/ point group) the SiO geometry deviates from a regular tetrahedron, but this does not seriously affect the results of other bond angles and lengths. Passing from terminal hydroxyls in H/sub 3/SiOH to bridged hydroxyls in H/sub 3/SiOH x AlH/sub 3/, the O-H bond becomes longer by 0.44 pm and and the SiOH angle becomes smaller by 0.4/sup 0/. The Al-O bond in the H/sub 3/SiOH x AlH/sub 3/ complex is longer (203 pm) and weaker (70kJ/mol) than previously estimated. In the complex, the deprotonation energy is lowered by 165 kJ/mol compared with that of silanol. Evidence is produced for a linear relation between deprotonation energy and net charge on the proton for hydroxyl of different type (free, hydrogen-bonded, bridged). Predictions are made for the local structures of terminal and bridged hydroxyls. An unusually long Al-O bond is found (194 +/- 5 pm for triple bond Si single bond O(H) single bond Al triple bond groups, which shrinks up to 172 +/- 3 pm on deprotonation.
Research Organization:
Central Institute of Physical Chemistry, Berlin, East Germany
OSTI ID:
6540936
Journal Information:
J. Phys. Chem.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Phys. Chem.; (United States) Vol. 91:9; ISSN JPCHA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English