In Situ IR Spectroscopic Studies on Molybdenum Nitride Catalysts: Active Sites and Surface Reactions

Recent IR spectroscopic studies on the surface properties of fresh Mo₂N/-Al₂O₃ catalyst are presented in this paper. The surface sites of fresh Mo₂N/-Al₂O₃, both Mo⁺ (0<<2) and N sites, are probed by CO adsorption. Two characteristic IR bands were observed at 2045 and 2200 cm^-1, due to linearly adsorbed CO on Mo and N sites, respectively. The surface N sites are highly reactive and can react with adsorbed CO to form NCO species. Unlike adsorbed CO on reduced passivated one, the adsorbed CO on fresh Mo₂N/-Al₂O₃ behaves similarly to that of group VIII metals, suggesting that fresh nitride resembles noble metals. It is found that the surface of Mo nitrides slowly transformed into sulfide under hydrotreating conditions, which could be the main reason for the activity drop of molybdenum nitride catalysts in the presence of sulfur-containing species. Some surface reactions, such as selective hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene, isomerization of 1-butene, and hydrodesulfurization of thiophene, were studied on both fresh and reduced passivated Mo₂N/-Al₂O₃ catalysts using IR spectroscopy. The mechanisms of these reactions are proposed. The adsorption and reaction behaviors of these molecules on fresh molybdenum nitride also resemble those on noble metals, manifesting the unique properties of fresh molybdenum nitride catalysts. Mo and N sites are found to play different roles in the adsorption and catalytic reactions on the fresh Mo₂N/-Al₂O₃ catalyst. Generally, Mo sites are the main active sites for the adsorption and reactions of adsorbates; N sites are not directly involved in catalytic reactions but they modify the electronic properties of Mo sites.