X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Catalytic Activity of alpha-ZirconiumPhosphate and Zirconium Phosphate

摘要

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) analyses were performed on alpha-zirconium phosphate (ZrP) and on an organic derivative of ZrP, zirconium phosphate sulfophenylphosphonate (ZrPS). The XPS results show that the change of half of the phosphate groups in ZrP to sulfophenylphosphonate groups in ZrPS, changes the binding energy levels for some electrons in the solid. The XPS analyses also show that upon intercalation of Ruthenium (2,2-bipyridine)3 2+ into ZrPS, the binding energies of the ruthernium and nitrogen atoms of the metal complex are unperturbed relative to the free complex. ZrP samples show increased catalytic activity for dehydration of cyclohexanol with increased acidity of the sample. However, no correlation between Zr3d or O1s binding energies and catalytic activity was found. Keywords: Dehydration; Cyclohexanol; Alcohols; Transition metals. (JG)