Electron spin resonance and electron spin-echo spectroscopic studies of supported-molybdenum catalysts. Interaction between molybdenum, adsorbate and oxygen molecules

Abstract
The interaction of various molybdenum species, obtained by high-temperature reduction of the supported catalyst, Mo/SiO2, with various adsorbates and molecular oxygen has been examined by the techniques of electron spin resonance (e.s.r.) and electron spin-echo modulation (e.s.e.m.). Two species observable by e.s.r. after such reduction, Mo(A) with g= 1.865 and Mo(B) with g= 1.895, seem to be insensitive to oxygen adsorption, indicating that the electron-donating centre causing the formation of O 2 is not observable by e.s.r. at room temperature, 77 K or 4 K. If polar adsorbates such as H2O, CH3OH, NH3 or C5H5N are adsorbed prior to exposing the reduced Mo/SiO2 surface to oxygen, O 2 is not formed. If a non-polar adsorbate such as C2H4 is adsorbed before or after O2 adsorption, O 2 is readily formed. O 2 can also be formed if the adsorbate is CH3CN. Mo(A) is sensitive to all adsorbates, leading to the formation of a new Mo5+ species, Mo(C), presumably through the completion of the coordination sphere. It is suggested that Mo5+ or Mo4+ in symmetric tetrahedral coordination is a likely centre for the formation of an O 2 species. Both e.s.r. and e.s.e.m. indicate that when small olefins are adsorbed after the formation of O 2 a reaction takes place, even at room temperature.

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