Paramagnetic silver species in irradiated Ag−NaA zeolites. An EPR and ESEEM study

Several polymeric silver clusters have been observed in Ag_x?NaA zeolite (x=1,6) of varying water content, which was exposed to x-rays at 77 K and annealed at higher temperatures.¹⁰⁹Ag₁?NaA zeolite dehydrated at 130°C yields the dimer¹⁰⁹Ag₂ ⁺ and the trimer¹⁰⁹Ag₃ ²⁺ after irradiation at 77 K and annealing at 240 K. Owing to the use of one Ag isotope the EPR spectra of these species are highly resolved exhibitingg and hyperfine anisotropy. By irradiation of¹⁰⁹Ag_x?NaA zeolite (x=1,6) in hydrated form two new trimeric silver clusters I and II are produced. The ratio between I and II depends on the initial Ag content. ESEEM spectra of these species show interaction with aluminum nuclei of the framework and with distant water molecules. If Ag₆?NaA zeolite dehydrated at 130°C is irradiated the hexameric cluster Ag₆ ⁿ⁺ is formed. The ESEEM spectrum shows interaction only to aluminum nuclei. From ESEEM experiments on Ag₆ ⁿ⁺ with added adsorbates (D₂O, CD₃OD) it could be inferred that Ag₆ ⁿ⁺ is only stable if the neighbouring cages do not contain adsorbate molecules.