RESUMEN
X-Ray absorption spectroscopy (XAFS) is an attractive in situ and in operando technique. In recent years, the more conventional extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) data analysis technique has been complemented by two newer analysis methods: the 'atomic' XAFS (AXAFS) technique, which analyzes the scattering from the absorber atom itself, and the Delta(mu) XANES technique, which uses a difference method to isolate the changes in the X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) due to adsorbates on a metal surface. With AXAFS it is possible to follow the electronic effect a support has on a metal particle; with Delta(mu) XANES it is possible to determine the adsorbate, the specific adsorption sites and adsorbate coverage on a metal catalyst. This unprecedented new information helps a great deal to unravel the complex kinetic mechanisms operating in working reactors or fuel cell systems. The fundamental principles and methodology for applying the AXAFS and Delta(mu) XANES techniques are given here, and then specific applications are summarized, including H adsorption on supported Pt in the gas phase, water activation at a Pt cathode and methanol oxidation at a Pt anode in an electrochemical cell, sulfur oxidation on Pt, and oxygen reduction on a Au/SnO(x) cathode. Finally, the future outlook for time and/or space resolved applications of these techniques is contemplated.
RESUMEN
The immobilisation of the rhodium/anthranilic acid complex onto fishbone carbon nanofibres (CNFs) was executed by means of the following steps: 1) surface oxidation of the fibres, 2) conversion of the oxygen-containing surface groups into acid chloride groups, 3) attachment of anthranilic acid and 4) complexation of rhodium by the attached anthranilic acid. The immobilisation process was followed and the resulting surface species were characterised by IR, X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and by molecular modelling. Anthranilic acid bonds to the CNFs by an amide linkage to the carboxyl groups that are present after surface oxidation of the fibres. The immobilised anthranilic acid coordinates to rhodium through the nitrogen atom and the carboxyl group. The assynthesised RhIII complex itself is not active in the liquid-phase hydrogenation of cyclohexene. Reduction with sodium borohydride yields small particles (d = 1.5-2 nm) of rhodium metal that are highly active. The results indicate that different activation procedures for the immobilised Rh/anthranilic acid system should be applied, such as reduction with a milder reducing agent or direct complexation of the rhodium in the RhI state.
Asunto(s)
Carbono/química , Compuestos Organometálicos/química , Amidas/química , Aminoácidos/química , Catálisis , Nanotecnología , Rodio/química , Análisis Espectral , Propiedades de Superficie , ortoaminobenzoatos/químicaRESUMEN
The changes in the layered structure of Mg-Al hydrotalcite (Mg/ Al = 2) during heat treatment have been investigated by using in situ XAFS simultaneously at the Mg and Al K-edges. The development of unique in situ instrumentation allowed the coordination environments at both the Mg and Al centers to be monitored as a function of the temperature and heat treatment. The results of this study show that the hydrotalcite structure is highly flexible, and should lead to the further development of hydrotalcites as new solid basic catalysts. Moreover, the Mg and Al cations in the cation layers show different behavior as a function of temperature. The coordination of some octahedral Al ions decreases already at a temperature of 425 K, whereas the coordination about Mg does not show any modification at this temperature. However, hydrotalcite treated at 425 K, followed by cooling down to room temperature resulted in a complete reversal to the original octahedral Al coordination. It is proposed that Al-OH bond breakage occurs at 425 K, without the evolution of H2O. This bond is restored after cooling to room temperature. The actual dehydroxylation of hydrotalcite commences between 425 and 475 K, as indicated by a change in coordination of both the Mg and Al centers. This is accompanied by the evolution of H2O molecules and the changes are hence irreversible without the presence of excess water. Heat treatment at 725 K leads to the development of an MgO-like phase (octahedral Mg) and a mixed octahedral/tetrahedral Al phase. A subsequent rehydration at room temperature entirely restores the original coordination about the Al and Mg centers of hydrotalcite to a distance of 15 A, to which XAFS spectroscopy is sensitive.
RESUMEN
The room temperature Cu K-edge EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) spectrum of reduced and oxidized amicyanin, the blue copper protein from Thiobacillus versutus, was measured at low and high pH. The data interpretation was partly based on independent NMR evidence for the occurrence of a ligand histidine protonation at low pH (pKa = 6.9) in the reduced protein. In the oxidized protein two nitrogen-donors (from two histidines; Cu-N distances 1.95-2.01 A and 1.86-1.89 A) and a sulfur-donor (from a cysteine; Cu-S distance 2.11-2.13 A) were identified and the coordination appears independent of pH. Upon reduction at high pH the Cu-S bond and one of the Cu-N bonds lengthen slightly (from 2.11 to 2.19 A and from 2.01 to 2.18 A, respectively). Upon lowering of the pH one of the N-donors of the Cu in reduced amicyanin disappears from the Cu EXAFS and a second S-donor (from a methionine) becomes visible at 2.41 A from the Cu. The Debye-Waller factors are compatible with a Cu-N vibrational stretch frequency in the range of 150-250 cm-1 and one greater than 285 cm-1, and a Cu-S vibrational stretch frequency of about 150 cm-1 (Cu-Smet; reduced amicyanin at low pH) and one in the range of 230-800 cm-1 (Cu-Scys).