The application of diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy and temperature-programmed desorption to investigate the interaction of methanol on eta-alumina

The adsorption of methanol and its subsequent transformation to form dimethyl ether (DME) on a commercial grade eta-alumina catalyst has been investigated using a combination of mass selective temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS). The infrared spectrum of a saturated overlayer of methanol on eta-alumina shows the surface to be comprised of associatively adsorbed methanol and chemisorbed methoxy species. TPD shows methanol and DME to desorb with respective maxima at 380 and 480 K, with desorption detectable for both molecules up to ca. 700 K. At 673 K, infrared spectroscopy reveals the formation of a formate species; the spectral line width of the antisymmetric C-O stretch indicates the adoption of a high symmetry adsorbed state. Conventional TPD using a tubular reactor, combined with mass spectrometric analysis of the gas stream exiting the IR cell, indicate hydrogen and methane evolution to be associated with formation of the surface formate group and CO evolution with its decomposition. A reaction scheme is proposed for the generation and decomposition of this important reaction intermediate. The overall processes involved in (i) the adsorption/desorption of methanol, (ii) the transformation of methanol to DME, and (iii) the formation and decomposition of formate species are discussed within the context of a recently developed four-site model for the Lewis acidity of eta-alumina.     

Inelastic neutron scattering and infrared spectroscopic study of furan adsorption on alkali-metal cation-exchanged faujasites.

Inelastic neutron scattering (INS) as well as infrared (IR) transmission and diffuse reflection infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectra of furan adsorbed on Li-LSX, NaY, NaX, K-LSX, and CsNaX zeolites have been measured in the range 2000-200 and 4000-1300 cm(-1), respectively. On the basis of an assignment of normal modes of furan taken from the literature and our own quantum chemical calculations of vibrational frequencies, the observed frequency shifts between bulk furan and furan adsorbed on the zeolites mentioned above have been interpreted in view of the interactions between furan and zeolite. For an explanation of frequency shifts of CH out-of-plane bendings, CH stretchings and some ring vibrations, it has to be assumed that in addition to the interaction between furan and the corresponding cation of the zeolite, a further interaction between the CH bonds and lattice oxygen atoms exists.     

Intense quasielastic neutron scattering of 4,4'-diethyoxyazoxybenzene and its connection with the inelastic neutron scattering spectrum

This is a continuation of a previous study of the odd-even effect for compounds of the series of 4,4'-di-n-alkyloxyazoxybenzenes. The reduction of the elastic component of the neutron scattering spectra (the elasticity depression), studied earlier at constant ΔT from the clearing point, has now been studied at constant temperature. The ethyoxy member of the series shows an exceptionally large elasticity depression; this is interpreted as evidence of a small steric hindrance for molecular motions due to the high nematic order parameter. This statement has been corroborated by the inelastic neutron scattering measurements for solid compounds of the series.     

An inelastic neutron scattering study of hydrogen bonding in potassium hydrogen dichloromaleate

The inelastic neutron scattering (INS) spectrum (350–2000 cm^?1) of potassium hydrogen dichloromaleate (solid slate) has been obtained. Two of the normal modes of vibration of the hydrogen bond [γ(OHO) and δ(OHO)] were observed and assigned. No INS band v_as(OHO) was observed in the region 500–1300 cm^?1. This conflicts with expectations from infrared data.     

Quasielastic and inelastic neutron scattering on hydrated calcium silicate pastes

Using the inverse geometry spectrometer QENS at the Intense Pulsed Neutron Source of the Argonne National Laboratory, we collected quasielastic and inelastic neutron scattering spectra of hydrated tricalcium and dicalcium silicate, the main components of ordinary Portland cement. Data were obtained at different curing time, from a few hours to several months. Both the quasielastic and inelastic spectra have been analyzed at the same time according to the relaxing cage model, which is a model developed to describe the dynamics of water at supercooled temperatures. Short-time and long-time dynamics of hydration water in hydrated cement pastes as a function of the curing time have been simultaneously obtained. The results confirm the findings reported in previous experiments showing that it is possible to fit consistently the quasielastic and inelastic spectra giving insights on the effect of the curing time on the short-time vibrational dynamics of hydration water.     

The analytical potential of neutron inelastic scattering reactions

The analytical application of neutrons produced by the⁹Be(d, n)¹⁰B reaction using 3-MeV deuterons is presented. The principal reaction for such neutrons is that of inelastic scattering. Fifteen elements were chosen for study (Se, Br, St, Y, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Er, Lu, Hf, W, Ir, Au and Hg). Gamma-ray spectra of the metastable isomers produced were obtained with a Ge(Li) detector. The minimum weight of each element detectable (L_D) was then determined from the spectra. Assuming a sample weight of 5g, several elements (Se, Br, Sr, Y, Hf and Au) had L_D values of less than 100 ppm.     

The inelastic neutron scattering spectrum of chloroform in solution

The incoherent inelastic neutron scattering (INS) spectrum of CHCl₃ in liquid SO₂ (ambient temperature) in the region 0–3600 cm⁻¹ is presented. For the first time it has been demonstrated that good quality INS data on solutes can be obtained over this energy transfer range. A discussion of suitable solvents for further work is included.     

Vibrational spectroscopy of adsorbed species on nickel by neutron inelastic scattering

In a test of the utility of neutron inelastic spectroscopy (NIS) for studying molecular vibrations in surface reactions, we have examined the adsorption, co-adsorption, and reaction of hydrogen and carbon monoxide on Raney nickel catalysts.     

Vibrational analysis of the inelastic neutron scattering spectrum of s-triazine and trichloro-s-triazine

The inelastics neutron scattering (INS) spectra of s-triazine and trichloro-s-triazine at 5 K provide the first observation of the IR and Raman inactive modes, v₄ and v₅. A full assingment is made by fitting a harmonic force field to the INS spectra profile. In the case of trichloro-s-triazine we demonstrate that this approach can be used successfully for a molecule without H atoms.     

Incoherent inelastic neutron scattering studies of the torsional modes of hexachloroethane

From incoherent inelastic neutron scattering studies of solid C₂Cl₆ the in- and out-of-phase torsions about the C-C axis are assigned at 56 and 95 cm^?1, respectively. Using a model for the potential barriers in the solid the torsional frequency in the gas has been calculated to be 76.7 cm^?1 and the internal barrier to be 67.8 kJ mol^?1.     

An infrared spectroscopic study of the formaldehyde complexes of dimethyl ether and methanol in solid nitrogen

IR spectra of the formaldehyde complexes of methanol and dimethyl ether in solid nitrogen at 20 K are reported. Dimethyl ether forms a non hydrogen bonded complex, analogous to a previously studied dimethyl sulfide-formaldehyde complex. Methanol forms a hydrogen bonded complex with formaldehyde and in addition appears to form another complex probably with a structure similar to that of the dimethyl ether-formaldehyde complex.     

Collective dynamics of sub- and supercritical methanol by inelastic X-ray scattering

Inelastic X-ray scattering experiments have been performed on methanol as a function of density from ambient to the supercritical state. Positive dispersion of the sound velocity, as compared to the hydrodynamic values, is 50% in the ambient condition and decreases to zero at 0.50 g cm⁻³ over the momentum transfer Q = 1–10 nm⁻¹ with lowering density; however, it increases again with a further decrease in density down to 0.20 g cm⁻³in the supercritical state only in the Q-range above 5 nm⁻¹. These results have been interpreted as the formation of small oligomers in the low-density supercritical methanol.     

Dynamics of water studied by coherent and incoherent inelastic neutron scattering

This paper reviews the more recent results obtained on the dynamics of water by neutron scattering and shows that some information can be obtained by this technique at the microscopic level of the hydrogen bond. It also accounts for some very recent results obtained with the hydrated protein C-phycocyanin.

Incoherent quasi-elastic and inelastic neutron scattering by water has been performed in a temperature range extending to the supercooled state. The analysis of the quasi-elastic spectrum separates two main components and gives two characteristic times, one of them being related to the hydrogen-bond lifetime. The inelastic spectra extend until 600 meV, i.e. covering the intramolecular vibration region, showing for the first time the stretching band.

Collective excitations propagating at 3310 m s⁻¹ have been observed by coherent inelastic neutron scattering. This result was predicted by previous computer molecular dynamics simulations of water. The data are interpreted as a manifestation of short wavelength collective modes propagating within patches of highly bonded water molecules, and distinct from the ordinary sound wave.     

The determination of tungsten in steels by neutron inelastic scattering

A simple, rapid and non-destructive method is described for determining tungsten in steels over the concentration range 0.08 to about 3% by mass. The method uses the low energy gamma-rays induced in¹⁸³W by neutrons from the 3 MeV bombardment of beryllium with deuterons. The precision is normally better than 10%.     

The high resolution inelastic neutron scattering spectrum of ammonium fluoride

The measured high resolution (deltaE/E approximately 2-3%) incoherent inelastic neutron scattering spectrum of ammonium fluoride is presented and discussed with reference to the available optical spectra. In addition, a full set of dispersion curves have been obtained from a new ab initio lattice dynamics calculation and these have been used to produce a rigorous interpretation of the spectrum. The librational modes of the ammonium ion occur at 560 cm(-1) and the anharmonicity in these modes is estimated to be 4%, about half that observed in the other ammonium halides. The reduction in anharmonicity is attributed to stronger hydrogen bonding and a deeper potential well. The calculations agree well with the observed spectrum apart from the librational modes which are shifted upwards by around 40 cm(-1) from the measured values. Dispersion and LO-TO splitting are important in this system with modes changing frequency by up to 135 cm(-1). The nature of the calculated LO-TO splitting in the optic mode region is indicative of a pseudo-cubic system confirming that the site symmetry of the ammonium ion is very close to T(d). Because of LO-TO splitting the ammonium ion asymmetric stretch, nu3, has components calculated to be at higher frequencies than those of the symmetric stretch, nu1, which contradicts the assignment scheme produced from optical data.     

An infrared spectroscopic investigation on N-methyl-1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione and -2-selone

An infrared investigation cm N-methyl-1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione and -2-selone in the range 4000-200 cm^?1 is reported. The v CS and v CSe vibrations give contributions to the absorptions around 1000 cm^?1 and below 600 cm^?1. The assignments are supported by comparison of their ir spectra with those of S- and Se-methiodides. The π-bond orders of the thio- and seleno-ketonic links in these compounds are higher than those found for 1,3-imidazolidine-2-thione and -2-selone.     

Design of an inelastic neutron scattering system based on DT neutron generator for metallic materials analysis

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - An inelastic neutron scattering system was developed to determine the elemental composition of large metallic materials. The geometrical size of...     

Examination of some binary mixtures by inelastic neutron scattering with a radioisotope neutron source

Magnesium, almuinium and iron have been determined in sand at levels of >1% by inelastic neutron scattering. Neutrons were obtained from a 1 Ci polonium-beryllium neutron source and analytical determination was based on measurement of the characteristic γ-lines emitted during nuclear de-excitation.