Relations between structure, acidity, and activity of WOx/TiO2: influence of the initial state of the support, titanium oxyhydroxide, or titanium oxide.

Two series of WO(x)/TiO(2) catalysts, containing W surface densities up to 4.4 W atoms/nm(2), were prepared by pore volume impregnation of two different supports, titanium oxyhydroxide (amorphous) or titanium oxide (crystallized, 100% anatase). The influence of W surface density and the nature of the support on the surface structure, development of the acidity, and catalytic performances were examined. The texture and structure of the catalysts were investigated by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller measurements, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman and infrared spectroscopy. The catalytic activity was tested for 2-propanol dehydration and n-hexane isomerization. For catalysts obtained by impregnation of titanium oxide, XRD and Raman results showed that W was present as a surface phase. Infrared spectra indicated an increase in the degree of polymerization of W species with increasing W surface density. CO and lutidine adsorption, followed by infrared spectroscopy, showed an increase in the strength and abundance of Brønsted acid sites (measured after lutidine desorption at 573 K) with the W surface density above a threshold of 1.3 W atoms/nm(2). The development of Brønsted acidity correlated with the evolution of the infrared bands attributed to polymerized W species. A direct relationship was observed between the concentration of Brønsted acid sites and the catalytic activity for 2-propanol dehydration. Catalytic activity, for n-hexane isomerization, appears to be associated with the presence of highly condensed W species. The catalysts synthesized by impregnation of titanium oxyhydroxide exhibited a comparable behavior. Hence, for a given W surface density, the W surface structure, concentration of Brønsted acid sites, and catalytic performances were similar. Thus, no significant effect of the initial form of the support (titanium oxyhydroxide versus titanium oxide; 100% anatase) was evidenced.

A comparative study of the surface structure, acidity, and catalytic performance of tungstated zirconia prepared from crystalline zirconia or amorphous zirconium oxyhydroxide.

Tungstated zirconias prepared from W deposition on zirconium oxyhydroxide are reportedly active for alkane isomerization, whereas solids synthesized by impregnation of zirconia are inactive. The origin of the differences between the two preparations is not fully understood. The present paper examines the influence of W surface density and the nature of the support on the surface structure, development of the acidity, and catalytic performance of WO(x)()/ ZrO(2) catalysts. Two series of catalysts containing W surface densities up to 5.2 at. W/nm(2) were prepared by pore volume impregnation of two different supports: zirconium oxyhydroxide and predominantly tetragonal zirconia (65% tetragonal, 35% monoclinic). The texture and structure of the catalysts were investigated by BET measurements, X-ray diffraction, Raman and infrared spectroscopy. The catalytic activity was tested for 2-propanol dehydration and n-hexane isomerization. For catalysts obtained by impregnation of Zr oxyhydroxide, Raman results showed that W was present as a surface phase. Infrared spectra indicated an increase in the degree of polymerization of W species with increasing W surface density. The development of the acidity was monitored by lutidine adsorption and desorption at 523 K, followed by infrared spectroscopy. The results indicated the presence of a threshold of W surface density at 1.3 at. W/ nm(2) for the detection of these acid sites, followed by a progressive increase in their abundance with increasing W surface density. The development of Brønsted acidity correlated with the evolution of the infrared bands attributed to "extensively" polymerized W species. A direct relationship was observed between the abundance of Brønsted acid sites and the catalytic activity for 2-propanol dehydration. For n-hexane isomerization, compared to 2-propanol dehydration, a higher threshold of W surface densities (3.4 at. W/ nm(2)) for the development of activity was observed. The difference was attributed to stronger Brønsted acid sites required for n-hexane isomerization. The catalysts prepared by impregnation of zirconia exhibited comparable behavior. For a given W surface density, the crystalline composition of the support (tetragonal/monoclinic zirconia), the W surface structure, abundance of Brønsted acid sites, and catalytic performance were similar. Thus, in an apparent variance with some of the results reported in the literature with respect to the influence of preparation methods, no significant effect of the initial form of the support (Zr oxyhydroxide versus predominantly tetragonal zirconia) was evidenced.

Acidity, surface structure, and catalytic performance of WO(x) supported on monoclinic zirconia.

The relationship between the acidity, catalytic activity, and surface structure for tungsten oxide supported on zirconia was investigated for a series of solids prepared by equilibrium adsorption on monoclinic zirconia. The catalysts were active for propanol dehydration only above a threshold in W loading. The acidity was studied by infrared spectroscopy of adsorbed probe molecules (2,6-dimethylpyridine and CO), and the onset of activity was correlated with that of the formation of relatively strong Brønsted acid sites. The variation in the abundance of these sites correlated with the catalytic activity. Lewis sites were present but could not be directly associated with the activity. Raman, IR, and UV spectroscopy results indicated that the active sites were related to polymeric W surface species.

Correlations between acidity, surface structure, and catalytic activity of niobium oxide supported on zirconia.

The development of the acidity and the relationship between acidity, catalytic activity, and the surface structure for niobium oxide supported on zirconia were investigated for a series of solids. The catalysts were active for 2-propanol dehydration only above a threshold in Nb loading. The acidity was studied by infrared spectroscopy of adsorbed 2,6-dimethylpyridine as a probe molecule, and the onset of activity was correlated with that of the formation of relatively strong Brønsted acid sites. The variation in the abundance of these sites also correlated with the catalytic activity. Raman, IR, and UV spectroscopy results indicated that the active sites were related to polymeric Nb surface species. These results were compared to those previously reported for the WO(x)/ZrO(2) catalysts.

Surface characterization of WO(3)/ZrO(2) catalysts.

A series of WO(3)/ZrO(2) catalysts with tungsten (W) loadings ranging from 0.5 to 11.4 wt% was prepared by incipient wetness impregnation on a preformed ZrO(2) support. The oxidic catalysts were characterized using XRD, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, ISS, and IR spectroscopy. XRD and Raman results showed that the ZrO(2) support was predominantly present in the monoclinic form. XPS and Raman measurements indicated the formation of increasing amounts of W interaction species for catalysts with W loadings up to 8.8 wt% WO(3). In addition to the W interaction species, bulk WO(3) was also observed for catalysts with W loadings > or = 3.0 wt% WO(3). Comparison of the XPS results with coverage measurements by ISS and CO adsorption suggests that the W surface phase is in the form of two-dimensional polymeric patches for catalysts with W loadings 3.0 < or = wt% WO(3) < or = 4.5. For catalysts with W loadings >4.5 wt% WO(3), the results indicated an additional build-up of a bilayer (or multilayer) polymeric W species. Analysis of the hydroxyl region of ZrO(2) by IR spectroscopy showed that initial additions of W occur on the high frequency hydroxyl group. A schematic for the structure of the catalysts has been proposed based on the above observations.