Stability of silver clusters in mordenites with different SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio

The stability and decay of silver clusters characterized by absorption bands 320 and 285 nm incorporated in mordenites with different SiO₂/Al₂O₃ molar ratios were studied under ambient conditions. Significantly different rates of disappearance of these two bands were the basis for assigning them to different silver species. Oxidation converts the clusters peaking at 320 and 285 nm into other silver clusters characterized by absorption bands at 310 and 240 nm, respectively. The oxidation of silver clusters peaking at 285 nm is significantly faster than that at 320 nm. The stability of both original clusters decreases with acid site strength that, in its turn, depends on Si0₂/Al₂O₃ molar ratio. The minimum lifetime of clusters peaking at 320 and 285 nm equal to ca. 40 and 20 days, respectively, was observed for mordenite characterized by the strongest acid sites. For mordenites possessing weaker acid sites, the lifetime of these clusters is found to be more than 50 months. The oxidation of silver clusters is reversible, and re-reduced silver clusters were revealed to possess the same electron structure as original ones.