Spin probe study of acidity of inorganic materials

Acidic characteristics of various inorganic materials, such as silica gel, aluminum, and titanium(IV) oxides, original and modified with F^? and SO ₄ ^2? ions, in the form of hydrogels and nanostructured powders doped by copper(II) ions, are studied. It is shown that pH values inside pores of the studied sorbents (pH_intr) differ from the pH of external solutions by 0.5–1.1 units. In the pores of original γ-Al₂O₃, the pH_intr values are higher, while, in pores of γ-Al₂O₃ samples modified with F^? и SO ₄ ^2? , as well as nonmodified α-Al₂O₃, SiO₂ gel, and TiO₂ hydrogels, pH_intr are lower compared to the pH of the external solution. It is found that pH_intr decreases, as the content of Cu²⁺ ions in the TiO₂ phase grows, and, beginning with a certain moment, it coincides with pH of an equilibrium solution. The pK _a values of functional group dissociation in some materials are determined. It is shown that, using spin probes, that is, pH-sensitive nitroxyl radicals, the electrostatic potential of the surface of nanostructured TiO₂ can be estimated.