Multivariate analysis of ATR-IR spectroscopic data: applications to the solid-liquid catalytic interface

Gas phase vs. liquid phase: monitoring H2 and CO adsorption phenomena on Pt/Al2O3 by IR spectroscopy

The adsorption of H2 and CO over Pt/Al2O3 was studied in gas and in liquid phase by FT-IR and ATR-IR spectroscopies under otherwise similar conditions. The solvent competes with hydrogen and CO for terrace and kink metal sites.

Structure evolution of single-site Pt in a metal-organic framework

Heterogeneous single-metal-site catalyst or single-atom catalyst research has grown rapidly due to the accessibility of modern characterization techniques that can provide invaluable information at the atomic-scale. Herein, we study the structural evolution of isolated single Pt sites incorporated in a metal-organic framework containing bipyridine functional groups using in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy with CO as the probe molecule. The structure and electronic properties of the isolated Pt sites are further corroborated by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy. We find the prerequisite of high temperature He treatment for Pt activation and CO insertion and inquire into the structural transformation of Pt site process by dynamic nuclear polarization-enhanced solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

The Application of Attenuated Total Reflection Infrared Spectroscopy to Investigate the Liquid Phase Hydrogenation of Benzaldehyde Over an Alumina-Supported Palladium Catalyst

The hydrogenation of benzaldehyde in cyclohexane over a 5 wt% Pd/Al2O3 catalyst at 313 K is firstly investigated at ambient pressure in a stirred batch reactor. The formation of benzyl alcohol is a facile process and a small mass imbalance is indirectly attributed to the formation of benzene as a by-product. No hydrogenolysis reaction to form toluene is observed. Secondly, examination of this reaction system by attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy enables the chemistry at the liquid/solid interface to be probed. Specifically, the ν(C=O) modes of solvated and adsorbed benzaldehyde are evident at 1712 and 1691 cm−1 respectively, providing information on how the reagent is partitioning within the reaction medium. Spectral acquisition on initiation of hydrogenation then enables the benzaldehyde → benzyl alcohol transition to be tracked. The additional presence of a broad CO stretching band of chemisorbed carbon monoxide (1852–1929 cm−1) is attributed to the hydrogen-assisted decarbonylation pathway that forms the benzene by-product.

Shining light on the solid–liquid interface: in situ/operando monitoring of surface catalysis

Many industrially important chemical transformations occur at the interface between a solid catalyst and liquid reactants. In situ and operando spectroscopies offer unique insight into the reactivity of such catalytically active solid–liquid interfaces.

Catalyst characterization in the presence of solvent: development of liquid phase structure-activity relationships

Due to the low volatility and highly oxygenated nature of biomass derived feedstocks, biomass upgrade reactions are frequently conducted in the presence of solvent to improve substrate mass transfer to the catalyst surface. However, relevant catalyst characterization techniques are most often performed in vacuum or inert gas environments, where the effect of solvent on the catalytic sites is ignored. Comparatively, characterization techniques in the presence of solvent are relatively rare, which poses challenges in developing structure-activity relationships for liquid phase reactions. In this perspective, commonly utilized techniques for probing the solid-liquid interface are briefly covered, with a focus on the role of solvent on zeolite and solid acid catalysis. New applications of techniques are proposed, most notably with ATR-FTIR, in the context of extracting thermodynamic information for the further understanding of the role of solvent on broadly applicable catalyst properties, such as acidity, and to develop structure-activity relationships for solid catalysts in solvent.

Formation and nitrile hydrogenation performance of Ru nanoparticles on a K-doped Al2O3 surface

Decarbonylation-promoted Ru nanoparticle formation from Ru₃(CO)₁₂ on a basic K-doped Al₂O₃ surface was investigated by in situ FT-IR and in situ XAFS. The prepared Ru nanoparticle acted as an efficient catalyst for nitrile hydrogenation to primary amine.

Elucidation of Intermediates and Mechanisms in Heterogeneous Catalysis Using Infrared Spectroscopy

Infrared spectroscopy has a long history as a tool for the identification of chemical compounds. More recently, various implementations of infrared spectroscopy have been successfully applied to studies of heterogeneous catalytic reactions with the objective of identifying intermediates and determining catalytic reaction mechanisms. We discuss selective applications of these techniques with a focus on several heterogeneous catalytic reactions, including hydrogenation, deNOx, water-gas shift, and reverse-water-gas shift. The utility of using isotopic substitutions and other techniques in tandem with infrared spectroscopy is discussed. We comment on the modes of implementation and the advantages and disadvantages of the various infrared techniques. We also note future trends and the role of computational calculations in such studies. The infrared techniques considered are transmission Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy, polarization-modulation infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy, sum-frequency generation, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, attenuated total reflectance, infrared emission spectroscopy, photoacoustic infrared spectroscopy, and surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy.

In situ studies of butyronitrile adsorption and hydrogenation on Pt/Al2O3 using attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy

The adsorption and hydrogenation of butyronitrile (BN) in hexane on a 5% Pt/Al2O3 catalyst has been studied using in situ attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy. ATR-IR measurements were conducted on thin ( approximately 10 mum) films of catalyst deposited on Ge wave guides. Multivariate analysis involving classical lease-squares (CLS) and partial least-squares (PLS) modeling was used to aid in the interpretation of the spectroscopic data. During the adsorption of BN over a concentration range from 4 to 40 mM in hexane, no clear evidence for adsorbed N-bound end-on species could be detected. However, a feature at approximately 1635-1640 cm-1 indicated the presence of an adsorbed imine species, with the C=N group existing in a tilted configuration involving a strong degree of pi interaction with the surface. This assignment is bolstered by the detection of N-H stretching bands that are consistent with imine vibrations. This imine-type intermediate is very prominent and shows transient behavior in the presence of solution-phase hydrogen, suggesting that, once formed, it can be converted into amine products that adsorb on the catalyst surface. Evidence for amine formation was observed in the form of N-H stretching and NH2 bending vibrations, with assignments confirmed through comparison studies of butylamine adsorption under identical conditions. Comparisons between Pt/Al2O3 and Al2O3 suggest that there may be some adsorption of these amines on the support surface. The mechanistic implications with regard to heterogeneous nitrile hydrogenation on transition metals under mild conditions are briefly discussed in light of these findings.

In Situ Investigation of Acetonitrile Adsorption on Al2O3-Coated CaF2 Using Sum-Frequency Spectroscopy

Sum-frequency spectroscopy (SFS) has been used to probe the interface between a model catalyst support (Al(2)O(3)-coated CaF(2)) and liquid consisting of neat acetonitrile and acetonitrile in ethanol. Vibrational features associated with both CN stretching ( approximately 2242 and 2281) and C-H stretching ( approximately 2942 and 2989) are observed for adsorbed nitrile. The peak positions are only slightly shifted from the bulk values, indicating weak adsorption to the model support. In the case of the neat liquid, the C-H stretching vibrations have also been probed using various polarization combinations of the sum frequency, visible and infrared beams in order to determine the orientation of the nitrile with respect to the surface. The average molecular angle calculated ( approximately 39 degrees ) shows the off-normal alignment of acetonitrile on the surface of the model support. Finally, an attempt has been made to obtain qualitative information about the adsorption isotherm of acetonitrile on Al(2)O(3)/CaF(2). The lack of curvature in the isotherm indicates the lack of affinity for the surface by acetonitrile in ethanol.

Photoassisted Decomposition of Malonic Acid on TiO2 Studied by in Situ Attenuated Total Reflection Infrared Spectroscopy

The photoassisted mineralization, i.e., conversion to CO2 and water, of malonic acid over P25 TiO2 was investigated by in situ attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy in a small volume flow-through cell. Reassignment of the vibrational bands of adsorbed malonic acid, assisted by deuterium labeling, reveals two dissimilar carboxylate groups within the molecule. This indicates adsorption via both carboxylate groups, one in a bridging or bidentate and the other in monodentate coordination. During irradiation the coverage of malonic acid strongly decreases, and oxalate is observed on the surface in at least two different adsorption modes. The major oxalate species observed during irradiation is characterized by monodentate coordination of both carboxylate groups. In the dark, however, part of these species adopts another adsorption mode, possibly interacting only with one carboxylate group. During band gap illumination a large fraction of the surface is not covered by acid. Oxalate is a major intermediate in the mineralization of malonic acid. However, the observed transient kinetics of adsorbed malonic and oxalic acid indicates additional pathways not involving oxalate. The rate constant for oxalate decomposition is slightly larger than the one for oxalate formation from malonic acid. As the oxalate is desorbing slowly from the surface its concentration in the liquid phase is small, despite the fact that it is a major intermediate in the mineralization of malonic acid.