Synthesis, structure, and catalytic reactivity of isolated V5+-Oxo species prepared by sublimation of VOCl3 onto H-ZSM5

Isolated and uniform V(5+)-oxo species were grafted onto H-ZSM5 at V/Al(f) ratios of 0.2-1 via sublimation of VOCl(3) precursors. These methods avoid the restricted diffusion of solvated oligomers in aqueous exchange, which leads to poorly dispersed V(2)O(5) at external zeolite surfaces. Sublimation methods led to stable and active V-ZSM5 catalysts for oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) reactions; they led to an order of magnitude increase in primary C(2)H(6) ODH rates compared with impregnated ZSM5 catalysts at similar V/Al(f) ratios and showed similar activity to impregnated VO(x)/Al(2)O(3). The structure of grafted V(5+)-oxo species was probed using spectroscopic and titration methods. Infrared spectra in the OH region and isotopic exchange of D(2) with residual OH groups showed that exposure to VOCl(3(g)) at 473 K led to stoichiometric replacement of H(+) by each (VOCl(2))(+) species. Raman spectra supported by Density Functional Theory electronic structure and frequency calculations showed that, at V/Al(f) < 0.5, hydrolysis and subsequent dehydration led to the predominant formation of (VO(2))(+) species coordinated to one Al site with single-site catalytic behavior (0.7-0.9 x 10(-3) mol C(2)H(4) V(-1) s(-1), 673 K). At higher V/Al(f) ratios, simulation of extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectra indicated that V(2)O(4)(2+) dimers coexisted with VO(2)(+) monomers and led to an enhancement in ODH rates as a result of bridging V-O-V (1.3 x 10(-3) mol C(2)H(4) V(-1) s(-1)). These V(5+)-oxo species form via initial reactions between VOCl(3(g)) and OH groups to form HCl((g)), hydrolysis of grafted (VOCl(2))(+) to form HCl((g)) and (VO(OH)(2))(+), and intramolecular and intermolecular condensation to form monomers and dimers, respective with the concurrent evolution of H(2)O. Raman and X-ray spectroscopies did not detect crystalline V(2)O(5) at V/Al(f) ratios of 0.2-1, but V(2)O(5) crystals were apparent in samples prepared by impregnation or physical mixtures of V(2)O(5)/H-ZSM5. Framework Al atoms and zeolite crystal structures are maintained during VOCl(3) treatment and subsequent hydrolysis; (27)Al and (29)Si MAS NMR showed that these synthetic protocols removes <10% of the framework Al atoms (Al(f)).     

Isolation of rhenium and ReOx species within ZSM5 channels and their catalytic function in the activation of alkanes and alkanols

Synthesis protocols, structures, and reactivity of Re-oxo species grafted onto H-ZSM5, and their subsequent conversion to Re-clusters through contact with H2 or CH4 were studied by using Raman, infrared, and X-ray absorption spectroscopies. Reactivity measurements by using alkane and alkanol reactants were also examined. Sublimation of Re(2)O(7) at 723 K led to a stoichiometric exchange with each ReO(x) species replacing one proton. Raman features for Re(2)O(7) disappeared during thermal treatment and Raman bands assigned to distorted-tetrahedral Si-O(f)ReO(3)-Al (O(f): zeolite-lattice oxygen atoms) species emerged; infrared bands for acidic OH groups in H-ZSM5 weakened concurrently. X-ray absorption near-edge and fine-structure spectra detected the formation of distorted-tetrahedral Re7+-oxo species during thermal treatment of Re(2)O(7)/H-ZSM5 mixtures in air, and their subsequent reduction to Re(0) in H2 or CH4 to form encapsulated Re metal clusters similar in diameter (approximately 8 A) to the channel intersections in ZSM5. Si-O(f)ReO(3)-Al species in ReO(x)-ZSM5 catalyzed the oxidative conversion of C(2)H(5)OH to acetaldehyde, acetal, and ethyl acetate with very low selectivity to CO(x) (<1 %). Unprecedented turnover rates were exhibited at temperatures much lower than previously found for ReO(x)-based catalysts, and without deactivation or sublimation processes ubiquitous in crystalline Re7+ compounds at temperatures required for catalysis. Encapsulated Re metal clusters formed by the reduction of Si-O(f)ReO(3)-Al precursors led to CH4 pyrolysis and C(3)H(8) dehydrocyclodimerization rates (per Re) that are higher than those previously reported for zeolite-based catalysts. The rate of CH4 conversion to benzene, by using Re-ZSM5, was approximately 30 % higher than that of the best reported catalysts, based on encapsulated MoC(x) clusters, whereas C(2)H(4) and C6+ arene selectivities were similar. C(3)H(8) activity and selectivity of Re-ZSM5 was significantly higher than that of Ga-ZSM5, the best reported catalyst for these reactions. Reaction rates (per Re) were independent of the Re/Al(f) (Al(f): aluminum framework) ratio for both Re and ReO(x) species. This is consistent with the uniform character of the structures formed during grafting of the ReO(x) species through sublimation and their ability to retain their homogeneity even after their reduction to encapsulated Re-clusters.     

A weight-function approach for determining watershed initial conditions for combustion waves

In many generic combustion models, one finds that a combustionwave will develop with a specific wave speed. However, thereare possible initial temperature profiles which do not evolveinto such waves, but rather die out to the ambient temperature.There can exist, in some models, a clear distinction betweenthose initial conditions that do evolve into combustion wavesand those that do not; this is sometimes referred to as thewatershed initial condition. When fuel consumption is consideredto be negligible, analytical methods can be used to obtain theexact watershed. In this paper, we consider the problem of determiningpseudo-watersheds and ascertaining the relationship betweenthese pseudo-watersheds and the exact watersheds. In the processa novel weight-function approach for infinite spatial domainsis developed.     

Meson production in p + d reactions

Total and differential cross sections for the reactions p + d → ³He + m ⁰ with m=π, η and p + d → ³H+π⁺ were measured with the GEM detector at COSY for beam momenta between threshold and the maximum of the corresponding baryon resonance. For both reactions a strong forward-backward asymmetry was found. The data were compared with model calculations. The aspect of isospin symmetry breaking is studied. Representing the GEM Collaboration     

The onset of coulomb explosions in polyatomic molecules

With the development of high intensity femtosecond lasers, the ionisation and dissociation dynamics of molecules has become an area of considerable interest. Using the technique of femtosecond laser mass spectrometry (FLMS), the molecules carbon disulphide, pyrimidine, toluene, cyclohexanone and benzaldehyde are studied with pulse widths of 50 fs in the near infrared (IR) wavelength region (790 nm). Results are presented and contrasted for laser beam intensities around 10(15) and 10(16) W cm(-2). For the lower intensities, the mass spectra yield dominant singly charged parent ions. Additionally, the appearance of doubly charged parent ions is evident for carbon disulphide, toluene and benzaldehyde with envelopes of doubly charged satellite species existing in these local regions. Carbon disulphide also reveals a small triply charged component. Such atomic-like features are thought to be a strong fingerprint of FLMS at these intensities. However, upon increasing the laser intensity to approximately 10(16) W cm(-2), parent ion dominance decreases and the appearance of multiply charged atomic species occurs, particularly carbon. This phenomenon has been attributed to Coulomb explosions in which the fast absorption of many photons may produce transient highly ionised parent species which can subsequently blow apart. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.