Influence of phosphate modification on the surface properties of sulfated titania

The effect of increasing phosphate loading on the bulk and surface properties of sulfated titania was investigated by thermogravimetry, X-ray diffraction, laser Raman spectroscopy and FT-IR spectroscopy. The acid properties of the material were probed by low-temperature FT-IR spectroscopy of adsorbed CO. Monophosphate species in varying symmetries and protonation states were detected on the surface of the sulfated titania at low loadings. These condensed with formation of surface polyphosphates with increasing loading. Phosphate blocks weak Lewis acid sites and partially displaces sulfate groups. While the acid, properties of phosphate-free sulfated titania are dominated by Lewis acid sites, the phosphated samples also developed Brønsted acid sites due to the presence of POH groups on the surface.