Siting of Co²⁺ Ions in Cobalt-Modified High-Silica Zeolites Probed by Low-Temperature Molecular Hydrogen Adsorption

Abstract

Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy was used to characterize the effects of introducing cobalt into the zeolites ZSM-5 and mordenite. Aqueous impregnation of the hydrogen form of the zeolite and subsequent in vacuo treatment at temperatures up to 920 K results in partial exchange of protons in bridging hydroxyl groups by Co²⁺ cations. These changes are evidenced by a decrease in intensity of the bands at 3606-3609 cm^-1 characteristic of Brønsted acid sites. DRIFT spectra of hydrogen adsorbed at 77 K also confirm the exchange of protons for Co²⁺ cations, as evidenced by a decrease in the intensity of the band at 4106 cm^-1 for H₂ adsorbed on protons. By contrast, the bands at ∼3905, ∼3965, and ∼4010 cm^-1 for H₂ adsorbed on the Co²⁺ cations increase in intensity. With increasing Si/Al ratio at a constant Co loading of 1 wt% the intensity of the band at 3905 cm^-1 for H-ZSM-5 strongly increases in intensity relative to the other bands. This feature is attributed to Co²⁺ cations interacting with two adjacent cation-exchange sites located in a 10-membered ring. It is hypothesized that the Lewis acidity of Co²⁺ cations in such environments is higher than that of Co²⁺ cations associated with oxygen atoms in individual five- or six-membered rings containing two Al atoms, because the Co²⁺ cation can interact with only two of the four basic oxygen anions located in the ring. It is proposed that Co²⁺ cations in the latter type of sites are identified by the bands at 3965 cm^-1 and 4010 cm^-1 for adsorbed H₂.