A Common Intermediate for N2Formation in Enzymes and Zeolites: Side-On Cu-Nitrosyl Complexes

Highly Efficient NO Abatement over Cu-ZSM-5 with Special Nanosheet Features

Conventional Cu-ZSM-5 and special Cu-ZSM-5 catalysts with diverse morphologies (nanoparticles, nanosheets, hollow spheres) were synthesized and comparatively investigated for their performances in the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO to N₂ with ammonia. Significant differences in SCR behavior were observed, and nanosheet-like Cu-ZSM-5 showed the best SCR performance with the lowest T₅₀ of 130 °C and nearly complete conversion in the temperature range of 200-400 °C. It was found that Cu-ZSM-5 nanosheets [mainly exposed (0 1 0) crystal plane] with abundant mesopores and framework Al species were favorable for the formation of high external surface areas and Al pairs, which influenced the local environment of Cu. This motivated the preferential formation of active copper species and the rapid switch between Cu²⁺ and Cu⁺ species during NH₃-SCR, thus exhibiting the highest NO conversion. In situ diffused reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) results indicated that the Cu-ZSM-5 nanosheets were dominated by the Eley-Rideal (E-R) mechanism and the labile nitrite species (NH₄NO₂) were the crucial intermediates during the NH₃-SCR process, while the inert nitrates were more prone to generate on Cu-ZSM-5 nanoparticles and conventional one. The combined density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the decomposition energy barrier of nitrosamide species (NH₂NO) on the (0 1 0) crystal plane of Cu-ZSM-5 was lower than those on (0 0 1) and (1 0 0) crystal planes. This study provides a strategy for the design of NH₃-SCR zeolite catalysts.

On the Redox Mechanism of Low-Temperature NH3 -SCR over Cu-CHA: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study of the Reduction Half Cycle

Cu-CHA is the state-of-the-art catalyst for the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) of NOx in vehicle applications. Although extensively studied, diverse mechanistic proposals still stand in terms of the nature of active Cu-ions and reaction pathways in SCR working conditions. Herein we address the redox mechanism underlying Low-Temperature (LT) SCR on Cu-CHA by an integration of chemical-trapping techniques, transient-response methods, operando UV/Vis-NIR spectroscopy with modelling tools based on transient kinetic analysis and density functional theory calculations. We show that the rates of the Reduction Half-Cycle (RHC) of LT-SCR display a quadratic dependence on Cu^II , thus questioning mechanisms based on isolated Cu^II -ions. We propose, instead, a Cu^II -pair mediated LT-RHC pathway, in which NO oxidative activation to mobile nitrite-precursor intermediates accounts for Cu^II reduction. These results highlight the role of dinuclear Cu complexes not only in the oxidation part of LT-SCR, but also in the RHC reaction cascade.

Multi-Spectroscopic Interrogation of the Spatial Linker Distribution in Defect-Engineered Metal-Organic Framework Crystals: The [Cu3 (btc)2-x (cydc)x ] Showcase

In the past few years, defect-engineered metal-organic frameworks (DEMOFs) have been studied due to the plethora of textural, catalytic, or magnetic properties that can be enhanced by carefully introducing defect sites into the crystal lattices of MOFs. In this work, the spatial distribution of two different non-defective and defective linkers, namely 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate (BTC) and 5-cyano-1,3-benzenedicarboxylate (CYDC), respectively, has been studied in different DEMOF crystals of the HKUST-1 topology. Raman micro-spectroscopy revealed a nonhomogeneous distribution of defect sites within the [Cu3 (btc)2-x (cydc)x ] crystals, with the CYDC linker incorporated into defect-rich or defect-free areas of selected crystals. Additionally, advanced bulk techniques have shed light on the nature of the copper species, which is highly dynamic and directly affects the reactivity of the copper sites, as shown by probe molecule FTIR spectroscopy. Furthermore, electron microscopy revealed the effect of co-crystallizing CYDC and BTC on the crystal size and the formation of mesopores, further corroborated by X-ray scattering analysis. In this way we have demonstrated the necessity of utilizing micro-spectroscopy along with a whole array of bulk spectroscopic techniques to fully describe multicomponent metal-organic frameworks.

Achieving Atomic Dispersion of Highly Loaded Transition Metals in Small-Pore Zeolite SSZ-13: High-Capacity and High-Efficiency Low-Temperature CO and Passive NOx Adsorbers

The majority of harmful atmospheric CO and NO_x emissions are from vehicle exhausts. Although there has been success addressing NO_x emissions at temperatures above 250 °C with selective catalytic reduction technology, emissions during vehicle cold start (when the temperature is below 150 °C), are a major challenge. Herein, we show we can completely eliminate both CO and NO_x emissions simultaneously under realistic exhaust flow, using a highly loaded (2 wt %) atomically dispersed palladium in the extra-framework positions of the small-pore chabazite material as a CO and passive NO_x adsorber. Until now, atomically dispersed highly loaded (>0.3 wt %) transition-metal/SSZ-13 materials have not been known. We devised a general, simple, and scalable route to prepare such materials for Pt^II and Pd^II . Through spectroscopy and materials testing we show that both CO and NO_x can be simultaneously completely abated with 100 % efficiency by the formation of mixed carbonyl-nitrosyl palladium complex in chabazite micropore.

Local Environment Sensitivity of the Cu K-Edge XANES Features in Cu-SSZ-13: Analysis from First-Principles

Cu K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge spectra (XANES) have been widely used to study the properties of Cu-SSZ-13. In this Letter, the sensitivity of the XANES features to the local environment for a Cu⁺ cation with a linear configuration and a Cu²⁺ cation with a square-linear configuration in Cu-SSZ-13 is reported. When a Cu⁺ cation is bonded to H₂O or NH₃ in a linear configuration, the XANES has a strong peak at around 8983 eV. The intensity of this peak decreases as the linear configuration is broken. As for the Cu²⁺ cations in a square-planar configuration with a coordination number of 4, two peaks at around 8986 and 8993 eV are found. An intensity decrease for both peaks at around 8986 and 8993 eV is found in an NH₃_4_Z₂Cu model as the N-Cu-N angle changes from 180 to 100°. We correlate these features to the variation of the 4p state by PDOS analysis. In addition, the feature peaks for both the Cu⁺ cation and Cu²⁺ cation do not show a dependence on the Cu-N bond length. We further show that the feature peaks also change when the coordination number of the Cu cation is varied, while these feature peaks are independent of the zeolite topology. These findings help elucidate the experimental XANES features at an atomic and an electronic level.

Redox-Driven Migration of Copper Ions in the Cu-CHA Zeolite as Shown by the In Situ PXRD/XANES Technique

Using quasi-simultaneous in situ PXRD and XANES, the direct correlation between the oxidation state of Cu ions in the commercially relevant deNO_x NH₃ -SCR zeolite catalyst Cu-CHA and the Cu ion migration in the zeolitic pores was revealed during catalytic activation experiments. A comparison with recent reports further reveals the high sensitivity of the redox-active centers concerning heating rates, temperature, and gas environment during catalytic activation. Previously, Cu⁺ was confirmed present only in the 6R. Results verify a novel 8R monovalent Cu site, an eventually large Cu⁺ presence upon heating to high temperatures in oxidative conditions, and demonstrate the unique potential in combining in situ PXRD and XANES techniques, with which both oxidation state and structural location of the redox-active centers in the zeolite framework could be tracked.

The interaction of reactants, intermediates and products with Cu ions in Cu-SSZ-13 NH3 SCR catalysts: an energetic and ab initio X-ray absorption modeling study

By modeling the Cu K-edge XANES of Cu-SSZ-13 from first principles, we find that the intensity and edge position does not only depend on the oxidation state of Cu, but also its coordination environment.

Revisiting the nature of Cu sites in the activated Cu-SSZ-13 catalyst for SCR reaction

Cu-SSZ-13 is a highly active NH3-SCR catalyst for the abatement of harmful nitrogen oxides (NO x , x = 1, 2) from the exhausts of lean-burn engines. The study of Cu-speciation occurring upon thermal dehydration is a key step for the understanding of the enhanced catalytic properties of this material and for identifying the SCR active sites and their redox capability. Herein, we combined FTIR, X-ray absorption (XAS) and emission (XES) spectroscopies with DFT computational analysis to elucidate the nature and location of the most abundant Cu sites in the activated catalyst. Different Cu species have been found to be dominant as a function of the dehydration temperature and conditions. Data analysis revealed that the dehydration process of Cu cations is essentially completed at 250 °C, with the formation of dehydrated [CuOH]+ species hosted in close proximity to 1-Al sites in both d6r and 8r units of the SSZ-13 matrix. These species persist at higher temperatures only if a certain amount of O2 is present in the gas feed, while under inert conditions they undergo virtually total "self-reduction" as a consequence of an OH extra-ligand loss, resulting in bi-coordinated bare Cu+ cations. Synchrotron characterization supported by computational analysis allowed an unprecedented quantitative refinement of the local environment and structural parameters of these Cu(ii) and Cu(i) species.