Properties of surface acid sites of ZrO2 and SO4ZrO2-based systems studied by diffuse-reflectance Fourier-transform IR spectroscopy: adsorption of acetonitrile-d3

The properties of acid sites of ZrO₂ and SO₄/ZrO₂-based systems modified by metal ions were studied by DRIFT spectroscopy using acetonitrile-d₃ as a probe molecule. In the case of ZrO₂. CD₃CN interacts with the Lewis acid sites (LAS) with moderate strength. Adsorption on the Brönsted acid sites (BAS) is very weak, which indicates the absence of strong BAS on the surface of ZrO₂. Modification of the surface by SO₄ groups results in the appearance of a new type of BAS that are capable of adsorbing CD₃CN in the polycoordinated form,i.e., stronger complexes with the adsorbate. Addition of metal ions (Fe, Ga, Zn, or Co) leads to the formation of a new type of LAS connected with Fe³⁺, Ga³⁺, Zn²⁺, and Co²⁺ promoter ions.