Carbon monoxide and oxygen interaction with Ru/MgF2 catalyst: IR and EPR studies

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy were used to study the formation of ruthenium and adsorbed species appearing on the catalyst upon the adsorption of CO and O₂ on 1.37 wt% Ru/MgF₂ catalysts derived from Ru₃(CO)₁₂. The presence of Ru ^x+ sites in spite of a reductive H₂ treatment at 673 K was observed by EPR and IR spectroscopy beside metallic Ru⁰ species. Both IR and EPR results provided clear evidence for the interaction between surface ruthenium and probe molecules. The IR spectra recorded after admission of CO showed a band at approx. 2000 cm⁻¹, due to linearly adsorbed CO on Ru⁰/MgF₂ and two bands at higher frequencies (approx. 2140 and approx. 2070 cm⁻¹), related to CO on oxidized Ru ⁿ⁺ species, e.g., to Ru(CO)₃ complex with Ru in the 1+ and/or 2+ state of oxidation and Ru(CO)₂ with Ru in the 3+ and/or 4+ state of oxidation. A weak anisotropic EPR signal with g _‖ = 2.017 and g _⊥ = 2.003 is due to O ₂ ⁻ radicals and a formation of Ru⁴⁺-O ₂ ⁻ complex is postulated. The Ru³⁺ appears to oxidize to Ru⁴⁺ and the resulting dioxygen anion is coordinated to the ruthenium. The strong, isotropic EPR signal at g ₀ = 2.003 detected upon admission of CO is attributed to CO radical anion rather than to any ruthenium carbonyl complexes.