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Metal-exchanged zeolites are well-known propane dehydrogenation (PDH) catalysts; however, the structure of the active species remains unresolved. In this review, existing PDH catalysts are first surveyed, and then the current understanding of metal-exchanged zeolite catalysts is described in detail. The case of Ga/H-ZSM-5 is employed to showcase that advances in the understanding of structure-activity relations are often accompanied by technological or conceptional breakthroughs. The understanding of Ga speciation at PDH conditions has evolved owing to the advent of in situ/operando characterizations and to the realization that the local coordination environment of Ga species afforded by the zeolite support has a decisive impact on the active site structure. In situ/operando quantitative characterization of catalysts, rigorous determination of intrinsic reaction rates, and predictive computational modeling are all significant in identifying the most active structure in these complex systems. The reaction mechanism could be both intricately related to and nearly independent of the details of the assumed active structure, as in the two main proposed PDH mechanisms on Ga/H-ZSM-5, that is, the carbenium mechanism and the alkyl mechanism. Perspectives on potential approaches to further elucidate the active structure of metal-exchanged zeolite catalysts and reaction mechanisms are discussed in the final section., (© 2023 The Authors. Advanced Science published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Ga-chabazite zeolites (Ga-CHA) have been found to efficiently catalyze propane dehydrogenation with high propylene selectivity (96%). In situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and pulse titrations are employed to determine that upon reduction, surface Ga 2 O 3 is reduced and diffuses into the zeolite pores, displacing the Brønsted acid sites and forming extra-framework Ga + sites. This isolated Ga + site reacts reversibly with H 2 to form GaH x (2034 cm -1 ) with an enthalpy of formation of ∼-51.2 kJ·mol -1 , a result supported by density functional theory calculations. The initial C 3 H 8 dehydrogenation rates decrease rapidly (40%) during the first 100 min and then decline slowly afterward, while the C 3 H 6 selectivity is stable at ∼96%. The reduction in the reaction rate is correlated with the formation of polycyclic aromatics inside the zeolite (using UV-vis spectroscopy) indicating that the accumulation of polycyclic aromatics is the main cause of the deactivation. The carbon species formed can be easily oxidized at 600 °C with complete recovery of the PDH catalytic properties. The correlations between GaH x vs Ga/Al ratio and PDH rates vs Ga/Al ratio show that extra-framework Ga + is the active center catalyzing propane dehydrogenation. The higher reaction rate on Ga + than In + in CHA zeolites, by a factor of 43, is the result of differences in the stabilization of the transition state due to the higher stability of Ga 3+ vs In 3+ . The uniformity of the Ga + sites in this material makes it an excellent model for the molecular understanding of metal cation-exchanged hydrocarbon interactions in zeolites.

Indium on silica, alumina and zeolite chabazite (CHA), with a range of In/Al ratios and Si/Al ratios, have been investigated to understand the effect of the support on indium speciation and its corresponding influence on propane dehydrogenation (PDH). It is found that In 2 O 3 is formed on the external surface of the zeolite crystal after the addition of In(NO 3 ) 3 to H-CHA by incipient wetness impregnation and calcination. Upon reduction in H 2 gas (550 °C), indium displaces the proton in Brønsted acid sites (BASs), forming extra-framework In + species (In-CHA). A stoichiometric ratio of 1.5 of formed H 2 O to consumed H 2 during H 2 pulsed reduction experiments confirms the indium oxidation state of +1. The reduced indium is different from the indium species observed on samples of 10In/SiO 2 , 10In/Al 2 O 3 ( i.e. , 10 wt% indium) and bulk In 2 O 3 , in which In 2 O 3 was reduced to In(0), as determined from the X-ray diffraction patterns of the product, H 2 temperature-programmed reduction (H 2 -TPR) profiles, pulse reactor investigations and in situ transmission FTIR spectroscopy. The BASs in H-CHA facilitate the formation and stabilization of In + cations in extra-framework positions, and prevent the deep reduction of In 2 O 3 to In(0). In + cations in the CHA zeolite can be oxidized with O 2 to form indium oxide species and can be reduced again with H 2 quantitatively. At comparable conversion, In-CHA shows better stability and C 3 H 6 selectivity (∼85%) than In 2 O 3 , 10In/SiO 2 and 10In/Al 2 O 3 , consistent with a low C 3 H 8 dehydrogenation activation energy (94.3 kJ mol -1 ) and high C 3 H 8 cracking activation energy (206 kJ mol -1 ) in the In-CHA catalyst. A high Si/Al ratio in CHA seems beneficial for PDH by decreasing the fraction of CHA cages containing multiple In + cations. Other small-pore zeolite-stabilized metal cation sites could form highly stable and selective catalysts for this and facilitate other alkane dehydrogenation reactions., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

The mechanism by which acid zeolites catalyze the formation of aromatic species is not fully understood and is important in an array of industrial processes such as the methanol to gasoline reaction. The so-called "carbon pool" mechanism is generally agreed to be the main channel for the formation of hydrocarbons from methanol. There is, however, no agreed sequence of elementary steps that explains how linear intermediates transform to cyclic intermediates, let alone aromatic rings. Recent work suggests the formation of conjugated trienes during zeolite-catalyzed aromatization, but mechanisms involving triene-derived carbocations have never been investigated using modern computational tools. In this work, we propose a new mechanism for cyclization of hexatriene over the Brønsted acid site of faujasite zeolite. Microkinetic models (MKM) using the results of Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations predict selectivity for neutral 5-membered-ring intermediates over 6-membered-ring intermediates, as suggested by infrared and UV-vis spectroscopic results reported by others. Given that the products of aromatization are 6-membered rings, this result suggests that triene cyclization can only explain how linear hydrocarbons become cyclic intermediates but not the mechanisms that ultimately lead to the aromatic rings seen in industrial zeolite-catalyzed hydrocarbon processes.

Polyethylene terephthalate that is 100 % bioderived is in high demand in the market guided by the ever-more exigent sustainability regulations with the challenge of producing renewable terephthalic acid remaining. Renewable terephthalic acid or its precursors can be obtained by Diels-Alder cycloaddition and further dehydrogenation of biomass-derived muconic acid. The cis,cis isomer of the dicarboxylic acid is typically synthesized by fermentation with genetically modified microorganisms, a process that requires complex separations to obtain a high yield of the pure product. Furthermore, the cis isomer has to be transformed into the trans,trans form and has to be esterified before it is suitable for terephthalate synthesis. To overcome these challenges, we investigated the synthesis of dialkyl muconates by cross-metathesis. The Ru-catalyzed cross-coupling of sorbates with acrylates, which can be bioderived, proceeded selectively to yield diester muconates in up to 41 % yield by using very low catalyst amounts (0.5-3.0 mol %) and no solvent. In the optimized procedure, the muconate precipitated as a solid and was easily recovered from the reaction medium. Analysis by GC-MS and NMR spectroscopy showed that this method delivered exclusively the trans,trans isomer of dimethyl muconate. The Diels-Alder reaction of dimethyl muconate with ethylene was studied in various solvents to obtain 1,4-bis(carbomethoxy)cyclohexene. The cycloaddition proceeded with very high conversions (77-100 %) and yields (70-98 %) in all of the solvents investigated, and methanol and tetrahydrofuran were the best choices. Next, the aromatization of 1,4-bis(carbomethoxy)cyclohexene to dimethyl terephthalate over a Pd/C catalyst resulted in up to 70 % yield in tetrahydrofuran under an air atmosphere. Owing to the high yield of the reaction of dimethyl muconate to 1,4-bis(carbomethoxy)cyclohexene, no separation step was needed before the aromatization. This is the first time that cross-metathesis is used to produce bioderived trans,trans-muconates as precursors to renewable terephthalates, important building blocks in the polymer industry., (© 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Methane non-oxidative coupling to ethylene was investigated on Mo 2 C/[B]ZSM-5 catalyst at 923 K and atmospheric pressure. In contrast to Mo 2 C/[Al]ZSM-5 catalysts for methane aromatization, this material exhibits very high ethylene selectivity (>90 %) and low aromatics (benzene and naphthalene) selectivity. The much weaker Brønsted acidity of [B]ZSM-5 leads to a slow rate of ethylene oligomerization. The stability of the catalyst is greatly enhanced with 93 % of the initial reaction rate remaining after 18 h of time on stream. In-situ UV/VIS spectra indicate that prior to carburization, mono/binuclear Mo oxides are initially well dispersed onto the zeolite support. Mo carbides clusters, formed during carburization with methane, appear similar to clusters formed in [Al]ZSM-5, as indicated by the X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) data., (© 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The CO 2 adsorption properties of cation-exchanged Li-, Na-, K-, and Mg-ZK-5 zeolites were correlated to the molecular structures determined by Rietveld refinements of synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction patterns. Li-, K-, and Na-ZK-5 all exhibited high isosteric heats of adsorption (Q st ) at low CO 2 coverage, with Na-ZK-5 having the highest Q st (ca. 49 kJ mol -1 ). Mg 2+ was located at the center of the zeolite hexagonal prism with the cation inaccessible to CO 2 , leading to a much lower Q st (ca. 30 kJ mol -1 ) and lower overall uptake capacity. Multiple CO 2 adsorption sites were identified at a given CO 2 loading amount for all four cation-exchanged ZK-5 adsorbents. Site A at the flat eight-membered ring windows and site B/B* in the γ-cages were the primary adsorption sites in Li- and Na-ZK-5 zeolites. Relatively strong dual-cation adsorption sites contributed significantly to an enhanced electrostatic interaction for CO 2 in all ZK-5 samples. This interaction gives rise to a migration of Li + and Mg 2+ cations from their original locations at the center of the hexagonal prisms toward the α-cages, in which they interact more strongly with the adsorbed CO 2 ., (© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

A four-step catalytic process was developed to produce p-methylstyrene from methylfuran, a biomass-derived species. First, methylfuran was acylated over zeolite H-Beta with acetic anhydride. Second, the acetyl group was reduced to an ethyl group with hydrogen over copper chromite. Third, p-ethyltoluene was formed through Diels-Alder cycloaddition and dehydration of 2-ethyl-5-methyl-furan with ethylene over zeolite H-Beta. Dehydrogenation of p-ethyltoluene to yield p-methylstyrene completes the synthesis but was not investigated because it is a known process. The first two steps were accomplished in high yield (>88 %) and the Diels-Alder step resulted in a 67 % yield of p-ethyltoluene with a 99.5 % selectivity to the para isomer (final yield of 53.5 %). The methodology was also used for the preparation of p-divinylbenzene. It is shown that acylation of furans over H-Beta zeolites is a highly selective and high-yield reaction that could be used to produce other valuable molecules from biomass-derived furans., (© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

An important advance in fluid surface control was the amphiphilic surfactant composed of coupled molecular structures (i.e., hydrophilic and hydrophobic) to reduce surface tension between two distinct fluid phases. However, implementation of simple surfactants has been hindered by the broad range of applications in water containing alkaline earth metals (i.e., hard water), which disrupt surfactant function and require extensive use of undesirable and expensive chelating additives. Here we show that sugar-derived furans can be linked with triglyceride-derived fatty acid chains via Friedel-Crafts acylation within single layer (SPP) zeolite catalysts. These alkylfuran surfactants independently suppress the effects of hard water while simultaneously permitting broad tunability of size, structure, and function, which can be optimized for superior capability for forming micelles and solubilizing in water.

Direct catalytic methanol production from methane is achieved on Cu-SSZ-13 zeolite catalysts using N 2 O as the oxidant. The methanol production rate on Cu-SSZ-13 (on a per gram basis) was more than twice the rate on Cu-mordenite and more than four times the rate on Cu-ZSM-5.

This communication reports the discovery of several small-pore Cu-zeolites and zeotypes that produce methanol from methane and water vapor, and produce more methanol per copper atom than Cu-ZSM-5 and Cu-mordenite. The new materials include Cu-SSZ-13, Cu-SSZ-16, Cu-SSZ-39, and Cu-SAPO-34.

CO2 adsorption in Li-, Na-, K-CHA (Si/Al=6,=12), and silica chabazite zeolites was investigated by powder diffraction. Two CO2 adsorption sites were found in all chabazites with CO2 locating in the 8-membered ring (8MR) pore opening being the dominant site. Electric quadrupole-electric field gradient and dispersion interactions drive CO2 adsorption at the middle of the 8 MRs, while CO2 polarization due to interaction with cation sites controls the secondary CO2 site. In Si-CHA, adsorption is dominated by dispersion interactions with CO2 observed on the pore walls and in 8 MRs. CO2 adsorption complexes on dual cation sites were observed on K-CHA, important for K-CHA-6 samples due to a higher probability of two K(+) cations bridging CO2. Trends in isosteric heats of CO2 adsorption based on cation type and concentration can be correlated with adsorption sites and CO2 quantity. A decrease in the hardness of metal cations results in a decrease in the direct interaction of these cations with CO2., (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Herein, the first comparison of the mechanisms of glucose-to-fructose isomerization in aqueous media enabled by homogeneous (CrCl3 and AlCl3 ) and heterogeneous catalysts (Sn-beta) by using isotopic-labeling studies is reported. A pronounced kinetic isotope effect (KIE) was observed if the deuterium label was at the C2 position, thus suggesting that a hydrogen shift from the C2 to C1 positions was the rate-limiting step with the three catalysts. (13) C and (1) H NMR spectroscopic investigations confirmed that an intra-hydride-transfer reaction pathway was the predominant reaction channel for all three catalysts in aqueous media. Furthermore, the deuterium atom in the labeled glucose could be mapped onto hydroxymethylfurfural and formic acid through reactions that followed the isomerization step in the presence of Brønsted acids. In all three catalysts, the active site appeared to be a bifunctional Lewis-acidic/Brønsted-basic site, based on a speciation model and first-principles calculations. For the first time, a mechanistic similarities between the homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis of aldose-to-ketose isomerization is established and it is suggested that learning from homogeneous catalysis could assist in the development of improved heterogeneous catalysts., (Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

RuC ees' transfer: Transfer hydrogenation using alcohols as hydrogen donors and supported ruthenium catalysts results in the selective conversion of hydroxymethylfurfural to dimethylfuran (>80% yield). During transfer hydrogenation, the hydrogen produced from alcohols is utilized in the hydrogenation of hydroxymethylfurfural., (Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The influence of Sn(II) species on TiO2 is investigated. The absorption spectra of these materials are red-shifted by 115 nm to the visible region of the solar spectrum compared with P25 TiO2. This prominent red-shift is attributed to the interaction of Sn(II) 5s orbitals with the TiO2 decreasing the band gap of TiO2 by raising its valence band. The tin oxidation state and the materials electronic structure are evaluated using Mössbauer spectroscopy and valence band X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy respectively. These materials are active for sacrificial photo-generation of hydrogen in visible light.

Samples of high-silica SSZ-13, ion exchanged with protons and alkali-metal cations Li(+), Na(+), and K(+), were investigated using adsorption isotherms of CO(2) and N(2). The results show that Li-, Na-SSZ-13 have excellent CO(2) capacity at ambient temperature and pressure; in general, Li-SSZ-13 shows the highest capacity for N(2), CO(2) particularly in the low-pressure region. The effect of cation type and Si/Al ratio (6 and 12) on the adsorption properties was investigated through analysis of adsorption isotherms and heats of adsorption. The separation of CO(2) in a flue gas mixture was evaluated for these adsorbents in the pressure swing adsorption and vacuum pressure adsorption processes.

The reaction of 2,5-dimethylfuran and ethylene to produce p-xylene represents a potentially important route for the conversion of biomass to high-value organic chemicals. Current preparation methods suffer from low selectivity and produce a number of byproducts. Using modern separation and analytical techniques, the structure of many of the byproducts produced in this reaction when HY zeolite is employed as a catalyst has been identified. From these data, a detailed reaction network is proposed demonstrating that hydrolysis and electrophilic alkylation reactions compete with the desired Diels-Alder/dehydration sequence. This information will allow the rational identification of more selective catalysts and more selective reaction conditions.

The increased carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere caused by combustion of fossil fuels has been a leading contributor to global climate change. The adsorption-driven pressure or vacuum swing (PSA/VSA) processes are promising as affordable means for the capture and separation of CO₂. Herein, an 8-membered-ring zeolite ZK-5 (Framework Type Code: KFI) exchanged with different cations (H⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺) was synthesized as novel CO₂ adsorbent. The samples were characterized by SEM, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), XRD, and gas adsorption (CO₂ and N₂). The Toth adsorption model was used to describe the CO₂ adsorption isotherms, and the isosteric heats of adsorption were calculated. CO₂ capture adsorbent evaluation criteria such as working capacity, regenerability and CO₂/N₂ selectivity were applied to evaluate the zeolite adsorbents for PSA/VSA applications. The in situ FTIR CO₂ adsorption spectra show that physisorption accounts for the largest fraction of the total CO₂ adsorbed. The CO₂ adsorption analysis shows that Mg-ZK-5 is the most promising adsorbent for PSA applications with the highest working capacity (ΔN(CO₂)=2.05 mmol g⁻¹), excellent selectivity (α(CO₂/N₂)=121), and low isosteric heat. Li-, Na- and K-ZK-5 with good working capacity (ΔN(CO₂)=1.55-2.16 mmol g⁻¹) and excellent selectivity (α(CO₂/N₂)=103-128) are promising CO₂ adsorbents for the VSA working region., (Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Isomerization of sugars is used in a variety of industrially relevant processes and in glycolysis. Here, we show that hydrophobic zeolite beta with framework tin or titanium Lewis acid centers isomerizes sugars, e.g., glucose, via reaction pathways that are analogous to those of metalloenzymes. Specifically, experimental and theoretical investigations reveal that glucose partitions into the zeolite in the pyranose form, ring opens to the acyclic form in the presence of the Lewis acid center, isomerizes into the acyclic form of fructose, and finally ring closes to yield the furanose product. The zeolite catalysts provide processing advantages over metalloenzymes such as an ability to work at higher temperatures and in acidic conditions that allow for the isomerization reaction to be coupled with other important conversions.

Low-pressure adsorption of carbon dioxide and nitrogen was studied in both acidic and copper-exchanged forms of SSZ-13, a zeolite containing an 8-ring window. Under ideal conditions for industrial separations of CO(2) from N(2), the ideal adsorbed solution theory selectivity is >70 in each compound. For low gas coverage, the isosteric heat of adsorption for CO(2) was found to be 33.1 and 34.0 kJ/mol for Cu- and H-SSZ-13, respectively. From in situ neutron powder diffraction measurements, we ascribe the CO(2) over N(2) selectivity to differences in binding sites for the two gases, where the primary CO(2) binding site is located in the center of the 8-membered-ring pore window. This CO(2) binding mode, which has important implications for use of zeolites in separations, has not been observed before and is rationalized and discussed relative to the high selectivity for CO(2) over N(2) in SSZ-13 and other zeolites containing 8-ring windows., (© 2012 American Chemical Society)

This report describes a detailed structural, electronic, and catalytic characterization of zinc gallium oxonitride photocatalysts with a spinel crystal structure. The bandgap decreases to less than 3 eV with increasing nitrogen content (<3 wt%) and these photocatalysts are active in visible light (λ>420 nm) for the degradation of cresol and rhodamine B. Density functional theory calculations show that this bandgap reduction is in part associated with hybridization between the dopant N 2p states and Zn 3d orbitals at the top of the valence band. X-ray photoelectron measurements indicate that nitrogen is indeed interacting with the oxide precursor through the formation of both nitride- and oxonitride-type species. The incorporation of nitrogen reduces the uniformity of the local structure of the spinel Zn-Ga-O-N (ZGON) species, as reflected in X-ray absorption spectra and Raman measurements relative to zinc gallate, which suggests the presence of defects. The oxonitrides exhibit faster photocatalytic rates of reaction than the oxide precursor. The degradation mechanisms were determined to be via the attack by hydroxyl radicals and holes for rhodamine B and cresol, respectively. Addition of Pt as a co-catalyst increased the rate of photodegradation, a result attributed to better charge separation., (Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Cu chabazite catalysts show remarkable low temperature activity in selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO. This high activity is due to the unique character of the zeolite framework that allows only the presence of one type of isolated mononuclear Cu(2+) species. These Cu(2+) species are the active sites for SCR.

This tutorial review centers on recent advances and applications of experimental techniques that help characterize surface species and catalyst structures under in situ conditions. We start by reviewing recent applications of IR spectroscopy of working catalysis, emphasizing newer approaches such as Sum Frequency Generation and Polarization Modulation-infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy. This is followed by a section on solid-state NMR spectroscopy for the detection of surface species and reaction intermediates. These two techniques provide information mainly about the concentration and identity of the prevalent surface species. The following sections center on methods that provide structural and chemical information about the catalyst surface. The increasingly important role of high-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in catalyst characterization is evident from the new and interesting information obtained on supported catalysts as presented in recent reports. X-Ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES and EXAFS) is used increasingly under reaction conditions to great advantage, although is inherently limited to systems where the bulk of the species in the sample are surface species. However, the ability of X-rays to penetrate the sample has been used cleverly by a number of groups to understand how changing reaction conditions change the structure and composition of surface atoms on supported catalyst.

Among the most efficient techniques for hydrogen desorption monitoring, thermal desorption mass spectrometry is a very sensitive one, but in certain cases can give rise to uptake misleading results due to residual hydrogen partial pressure background variations. In this work one develops a novel thermal desorption variant based on the effusive molecular beam technique that represents a significant improvement in the accurate determination of hydrogen mass absorbed on a solid sample. The enhancement in the signal-to-noise ratio for trace hydrogen is on the order of 20%, and no previous calibration with a chemical standard is required. The kinetic information obtained from the hydrogen desorption mass spectra (at a constant heating rate of 1 degrees C/min) accounts for the consistency of the technique.

We report the mechanism of zeolite beta nucleation and growth at 120 degrees C in Al-containing solutions. Two solutions with molar compositions 1 SiO(2)/80 H(2)O/0.25 TEA(2)O/4 CH(3)CH(2)OH/(0.05 + Y) Na(2)O/Y Al(2)O(3), where Y is 0 and 0.01, were studied using attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform spectroscopy, small angle scattering, and cryogenic-transmission electron microscopy. First, at room temperature, supersaturated silica self-assembles into primary particles (<3 nm). Upon heating the primary particles, the least stable ones aggregate into secondary particles. Some of the secondary particles are stable as spheroidal monomer particles, but others are unstable and aggregate into small clusters. After 4 days of heating, secondary particles are mostly composed of amorphous silica, but their density is similar to that of zeolite beta. All-silica secondary particles are stable in solution for extended periods of time (>100 days), and no all-silica zeolite beta product was obtained. On the other hand, after 6 days of heating solutions containing Al, we observe that Al-containing secondary particles aggregate into tertiary particles that have the structure of zeolite beta. We conclude that as silica reorganizes from amorphous into zeolite beta, Al-containing secondary particles become less stable (in the colloidal sense) and aggregate with tertiary particles.

Hybrid density functional theory/molecular mechanics (DFT/MM) methods have been used to investigate the effects of vanadium substitution in ETS-10. Models have been developed to contain varying concentrations of V(IV) and V(V) within the O-M-O (M = Ti, V) chain. Most of the V-substituted models have a localized mid-gap state. The occupation of this localized state depends upon the dopant oxidation state, leading to the addition of multiple low energy transitions. A linear correlation has been identified between band gap energies estimated using ground state orbital energies and those calculated using the more accurate and computationally demanding time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) method for a variety of transition metal substituted models of ETS-10. Consistent with experimental data for V substitution, our models predict a decrease in the optical band gap with increasing [V], due to a lowering of the delocalized d-orbital states at the bottom of the conduction band with increasing V d-orbital character. This effect is more pronounced in the case of V(V) substitution than V(IV). Excitation energies for the V-doped models, calculated with TDDFT methods correlate well with experimental data, allowing for the assignment of specific optical transitions to experimental UV-Vis spectra. The electronic structure of V-substituted ETS-10 at high V concentration demonstrates band gap energies within the visible range of the spectrum. Additionally, at high [V] the band gap energy and presence of low energy electron traps can be controlled by the relative concentration of V(IV) and V(V) along the O-M-O chain, establishing V-substituted ETS-10 as a promising visible light photocatalyst.

We report the effect of aluminum on the formation and structure of silica nanoparticles formed in basic solutions of small organic and inorganic cations using a combination of small-angle X-ray scattering, conductivity, pH, and 27Al NMR spectroscopy methods. At low silica concentrations, our observations agree with previous reports and show the formation of small oligomers ((HO)4-nAl(OSi(OH)3)n)- that can be modeled qualitatively using a simple aqueous speciation model. We also find that aluminum drastically reduces the concentration of silica at which nanoparticles are formed. Using organic cations, the particles are smaller than the ones observed in pure silica systems (1.5 nm vs approximately 3 nm diameter), but in the case of sodium cations, larger particles are detected ( approximately 10 nm in diameter). The data suggests that sodium cations are incorporated within the inorganic silica/alumina core, as opposed to organic cations that appear to be excluded from such clusters. Important insights are gained by making analogies to the behavior of mixed surfactant systems using regular solution theory and noting that the formation of Si-O-Al bonds (as measured by the DeltaGdegrees(rxn) of condensation) is much more favorable than the formation of Si-O-Si bonds.

We show that germania nanoparticle self-assembly in basic aqueous solutions occurs at a critical aggregation concentration (CAC) corresponding to a 1:1 GeO2/OH- molar ratio. A combination of pH, conductivity, and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements was used to monitor the effect of incremental additions of germanium (IV) ethoxide to basic solutions of sodium hydroxide or tetraalkylammonium cations. Plots of pH versus total germania concentration at varying alkalinities generated a phase diagram with three distinct regions. The diagram was analyzed with a thermodynamic model based on the chemical equilibria of germania speciation and dissociation. The model, which uses the GeO-H dissociation constant (pK = 7.1) as the single fitting parameter, quantitatively captures trends in the CAC and pH. SAXS patterns reveal that the germania nanoparticles have either a cubic or a spherical geometry of dimension approximately 1 nm that is independent of solution pH and cation. On the basis of these and other literature findings, we propose that the germania nanoparticle structure is that of the cubic octamer (double four-membered ring, Ge8O12(OH)8), which is common among condensed GeO2 materials and building units in [Ge,Si]-zeolites. Comparisons between germania and silica solutions show distinct differences in their phase behavior and nanoparticle structure. The results presented here, in combination with previous studies of siliceous solutions, provide a framework for ongoing studies of combined germania-silica phase behavior, which is part of an overarching effort to understand the influence of heteroatoms in the growth and structure direction of zeolites.

Hybrid DFT/MM methods have been used to investigate the electronic and geometric properties of the microporous titanosilicate ETS-10. A comparison of finite length and periodic models demonstrates that band gap energies for ETS-10 can be well represented with relatively small cluster models. Optimization of finite clusters leads to different local geometries for bulk and end sites, where the local bulk TiO6 geometry is in good agreement with recent experimental results. Geometry optimizations reveal that any asymmetry within the axial O-Ti-O chain is negligible. The band gap in the optimized model corresponds to a O(2p) --> Tibulk(3d) transition. The results suggest that the three Ti atom, single chain, symmetric, finite cluster is an effective model for the geometric and electronic properties of bulk and end TiO6 groups in ETS-10.

The kinetics and thermodynamics of lysozyme precipitation in ammonium sulfate solutions at pH 4 and 8 and room temperature were studied. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) was used to characterize the structure of lysozyme precipitates. It was found that, if sufficient time was allowed, microcrystals developed following an induction period after initial lysozyme precipitation, even up to ionic strengths of 8 m and at acidic pH, where lysozyme is refractory to crystallization in ammonium sulfate. The full set of precipitation and crystallization data allowed construction of a phase diagram of lysozyme, showing the ammonium sulfate dependence. It suggests that precipitation may reflect a frustrated metastable liquid-liquid phase separation, which would allow this process to be understood within the framework of the generic phase diagram for proteins. The results also demonstrate that XRD, more frequently used for characterizing inorganic and organic polycrystalline materials, is useful both in characterizing the presence of crystals in the dense phase and in verifying the crystal form of proteins.

The microstructure of silica in basic aqueous solutions containing organic cations and prepared from monomeric precursors is reviewed and interpreted within the context of classical ideas of self-assembly of molecular aggregates. The solution properties can be understood by using the pseudo-phase separation approach coupled to the acid-base chemistry of silanol groups and the Poisson-Boltzmann equation. The silica nanoparticles frequently observed in these systems have a core-shell structure with silica in the core and the organic cations at the shell. Individual particles are observed when the forces between particles are repulsive-as is the case for small cations such as tetramethylammonium or tetrapropylammonium-and extended structures such as M41S materials are formed when the forces are attractive--as is the case for surfactants such as cetyltrimethylammonium. These ideas are useful to understand the evolution of zeolite synthesis gels from nucleation to crystal growth. Although at room temperature the silica and the organic cations are segregated, upon heating the organic cations are embedded within the particles. This transformation signals the onset of structure direction whereby the size and geometry of the organic cation induce changes in the structure of silica that may lead to zeolite nuclei.

The colloidal stability, phase behavior, and solubility of silica nanoparticles (3-10 nm) that are formed in basic solutions of monovalent cations (primarily tetrapropylammonium) are investigated using a combination of chemical equilibria and electrostatic models. The free-energy gain associated with the formation of an electric double layer surrounding the nanoparticle was obtained by solving the Poisson-Boltzmann equation. This free energy is an important contribution to the total free energy of the particle and is second only to the formation of Si-O-Si bonds. The free energy of formation of the nanoparticles becomes increasingly negative with an increase in particle size and density, which explains the lower solubility of nanoparticles compared to that of amorphous silica. There is a minimum in the free energy of condensation as a function of size that qualitatively explains why the formation of small particles with a uniform size (<5 nm) is energetically favorable. The electrostatic models provide an estimate for the nanoparticle surface potential, which is significantly higher (-120 to -170 mV) than that of zeolite silicalite-1 (-60 to -80 mV) prepared in similar solutions. This result explains the stability of such small particles in solution. It is also shown that a condensation model that is based on silica solubility can describe the phase diagram for nanoparticle formation reported by Fedeyko et al. (J. Phys. Chem. B 2004, 108, 12271) over a wide range of pH and, in conjunction with a complexation model, provides an approximate equilibrium constant (pKa = 8.4) for the dissociation of nanoparticle silanol groups.

The time evolution of silica nanoparticles in solutions of tetrapropylammonium (TPA) has been studied using a combination of small-angle scattering, conductivity, and pH measurements to provide the first comprehensive analysis of nanoparticle structural and compositional changes at elevated temperatures. We have found that silica-TPA nanoparticles subjected to hydrothermal treatment (70-90 degrees C) grow via an Ostwald ripening mechanism with growth rates that depend on both pH and temperature. Small-angle X-ray (SAXS) and neutron (SANS) scattering confirm that the core-shell structure of the particles, initially present at room temperature, is maintained during heating, but an evolution toward sphericity is evidenced especially at high values of pH. SAXS absolute intensity calculations were utilized to calculate the changes in nanoparticle composition and concentration over time. These changes along with the conductivity and pH measurements and SANS contrast matching studies indicate that, upon heating, TPA becomes embedded in the core of nanoparticles giving rise to more zeolitic-looking nanomaterials.

The phase behavior of silica solutions containing organic and inorganic cations was studied at room temperature using conductivity, pH, and small-angle scattering experiments. A critical aggregation concentration (cac) was observed at approximately 1:1 ratio of SiO(2)/OH(-) for all cation solutions from conductivity and pH studies. From this cac, a phase diagram of the system was developed with three distinct phase regions in pseudoequilibrium: a monomer/oligomer region (I), a monomer/oligomer/nanoparticle region (II), and a gel region (III). Small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering (SAXS and SANS) on solutions of region II formed with tetrapropylammonium hydroxide (TPAOH) revealed that the nanoparticles have a core-shell structure. Structure analysis of the SAXS and SANS data was best fit by a core-shell oblate ellipsoid model. A polydisperse set of core-shell spheres also fit the data well although with lower agreement factors. Similar nanoparticle morphologies were found in solutions of TMAOH, CsOH, and NaOH.

We have used the pair distribution function (PDF) method to gain insight into the mechanism of contraction of zeolite chabazite. Using this method we followed how the interatomic distances of the local structure changed with temperature. By optimization of the structure by free energy minimization and using the Reverse Monte Carlo technique we were able to find structural models at low and at high temperatures that agreed quantitatively with our experimental PDFs. From these models we conclude that the mechanism of contraction with temperature cannot involve rocking of the tetrahedra as rigid unit modes as there are distortions of the tetrahedra with temperature (indicating internal vibrations) and also that the mechanism of contraction probably involves a mode that translates along the Si-O3-Si-O4-Si linkages inside of the D6R of zeolite chabazite.

Beams of hyperthermal K atoms cross beams of the oriented haloforms CF(3)H, CCl(3)H, and CBr(3)H, and transfer of an electron mainly produces K(+) and the X(-) halide ion which are detected in coincidence. As expected, the steric asymmetry of CCl(3)H and CBr(3)H is very small and the halogen end is more reactive. However, even though there are three potentially reactive centers on each molecule, the F(-) ion yield in CF(3)H is strongly dependent on orientation. At energies close to the threshold for ion-pair formation ( approximately 5.5 eV), H-end attack is more reactive to form F(-). As the energy is increased, the more productive end switches, and F-end attack dominates the reactivity. In CF(3)H near threshold the electron is apparently transferred to the sigma(CH) antibonding orbital, and small signals are observed from electrons and CF(3)(-) ions, indicating "activation" of this orbital. In CCl(3)H and CBr(3)H the steric asymmetry is very small, and signals from free electrons and CX(3)(-) ions are barely detectable, indicating that the sigma(CH) antibonding orbital is not activated. The electron is apparently transferred to the sigma(CX) orbital which is believed to be the LUMO. At very low energies the proximity of the incipient ions probably determines whether salt molecules or ions are formed.

A new description of the disorder in ZSM-48 is given. It is shown that ZSM-48 is not a code for one material but for a family of materials consisting of tubular pores. The pores are formed of rolled up honeycomb-like sheets of fused T6-rings (T= tetrahedral), and the pore aperture contains 10 T-atoms. Neighboring pores are related by a zero shift along the pore direction or by a shift of half the repeat distance along the pore direction ( approximately 0.5 x 8.40 A). Additional T-T dimers fill spaces between the tubes. Using different degrees of disorder, the X-ray diffraction patterns of a variety of samples of ZSM-48 can be simulated. The present description of the disorder yields calculated diffraction patterns that are in better agreement with experimental patterns than previous descriptions. Unlike previous reports on ZSM-48, it is found that some materials can be highly ordered, others present mostly planar faults, and others still are better described by a two-dimensional (disordered) stacking of tubular pores. The local pore topology is the same in all (disordered) models, and the disorder does not block the pores. Differences in catalytic properties are probably due to differences in crystal morphology and size and to differences in the distribution of aluminum in the framework.

The framework structures of two closely related molecular sieves, SSZ-26 and SSZ-33, are described. These materials possess a previously missing but desired structural feature in a group of industrially significant zeolites. They contain a three-dimensional pore system that provides access to the crystal interior through both 10- and 12-rings. This property is a consequence of the organic structure-directing agents used in the synthesis of these materials. These materials are examples of the purposeful design of a micropore architecture. Both SSZ-26 and SSZ-33 contain the 4=4-1 building unit that had been previously found only in natural zeolites.

The Oqual is a simple new device attachable to the (Haag-Streit or Topcon) slit-lamp. It provides objective numerical assessments of the optical quality of the anterior segment. In the present study, patients attending Outpatients Clinics at Moorfields Eye Hospital were divided into those who suffered from lenticular symptoms and those who did not. Their monocular visual acuity was measured routinely by means of a Snellen chart, and thereafter their eyes were examined with the Oqual. Results are given for the correlation between the two measures overall (R2 = 47.35%), and for inter-observer performance (r = 0.8878). Earlier conclusions on the effects of smoking habits are supported.