[Mo3 S13 ]2- as a Model System for Hydrogen Evolution Catalysis by MoSx : Probing Protonation Sites in the Gas Phase by Infrared Multiple Photon Dissociation Spectroscopy.

Materials based on molybdenum sulfide are known as efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts. As the binding site for H atoms on molybdenum sulfides for the catalytic process is under debate, [HMo3 S13 ]- is an interesting molecular model system to address this question. Herein, we probe the [HMo3 S13 ]- cluster in the gas phase by coupling Fourier-transform ion-cyclotron-resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) with infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy. Our investigations show one distinct S-H stretching vibration at 2450 cm-1 . Thermochemical arguments based on DFT calculations strongly suggest a terminal disulfide unit as the H adsorption site.

Structural Properties of Gas-Phase Molybdenum Oxide Clusters [Mo4O13]2-, [HMo4O13]-, and [CH3Mo4O13]- Studied by Collision-Induced Dissociation.

Molybdenum oxide-based catalysts are widely used for the ammoxidation of toluene, methanation of CO, or hydrodeoxygenation. As a first step towards a gas-phase model system, we investigate here structural properties of mass-selected [Mo4O13]2-, [HMo4O13]-, and [CH3Mo4O13]- by a combination of collision-induced dissociation (CID) experiments and quantum chemical calculations. According to calculations, the common structural motif is an eight-membered ring composed of four MoO2 units and four O atoms. The 13th O atom is located above the center of the ring and connects two to four Mo centers. For [Mo4O13]2- and [HMo4O13]-, dissociation requires opening or rearrangement of the ring structure, which is quite facile for the doubly charged [Mo4O13]2-, but energetically more demanding for [HMo4O13]-. In the latter case, the hydrogen atom is found to stay preferentially with the negatively charged fragments [HMo2O7]- or [HMoO4]-. The doubly charged species [Mo4O13]2- loses one MoO3 unit at low energies while Coulomb explosion into the complementary fragments [Mo2O6]- and [Mo2O7]- dominates at elevated collision energies. [CH3Mo4O13]- affords rearrangements of the methyl group with low barriers, preferentially eliminating formaldehyde, while the ring structure remains intact. [CH3Mo4O13]- also reacts efficiently with water, leading to methanol or formaldehyde elimination.