Adsorbate interactions of Cu(II) in mesoporous Cu-GaMCM-41 studied by electron spin resonance and electron spin echo modulation

Abstract

Gallium-containing mesoporous MCM-41 materials (GaMCM-41) were synthesized by adjusting the gel equilibrium between the source gallosilicate mixture and a GaMCM-41 phase using an organic acid. The location of Cu(II) exchanged into the mesoporous GaMCM-41 and its interactions with various adsorbate molecules were investigated by electron spin resonance (ESR) and electron spin echo modulation (ESEM) spectroscopies. The results are compared with those of Cu-AlMCM-41. In a fresh, hydrated Cu-GaMCM-41, Cu(II) is octahedrally coordinated to six water molecules and is located in a cylindrical channel and rotates rapidly at room temperature. Evacuation removes some of these water molecules, leaving the Cu(II) coordinated to fewer water molecules and anchored to oxygens in the channel wall. Dehydration produces one Cu(II) species located on the internal wall of a channel which is accessible to oxygen as evidenced by broadening of its ESR lines by oxygen. Adsorption of water, methanol, ammonia, pyridine, aniline, acetonitrile, benzene and ethylene on dehydrated Cu-GaMCM-41 materials causes changes in the ESR spectra of Cu(II), indicating complex formation with these adsorbates. Cu(II) fully coordinates with a maximum coordination number of polar adsorbates in MCM-41 mesopores. Cu(II) forms a complex with six molecules of methanol as evidenced by an isotropic room temperature ESR signal and ESEM data. Cu(II) forms square planar complexes with four molecules of ammonia, pyridine and aniline based on resolved nitrogen superhyperfine interactions and other ESR parameters. However, Cu(II) forms a complex with six molecules of acetonitrile based on the ESR parameters and ESEM data. Interestingly, Cu(II) does not fully coordinate with nonpolar molecules. Cu(II) interacts directly with only one molecule of benzene, and only part of Cu(II) interacts indirectly with one molecule of ethylene based on ESR and ESEM analyses.