Abstract

Acid/base characterizations of metal oxide surfaces are used often to explain their catalytic behavior. BF3, a strong Lewis acid, is used in this investigation as a probe molecule to interrogate the basicity of well-defined Cr2O3 (101̄2) surfaces. BF3 clearly probes differences in oxide ions of different coordination on Cr2O3 (101̄2). The heat of adsorption of BF3 shows that terminal chromyl oxygens are stronger Lewis bases than three-coordinate oxygen anions on the nearly stoichiometric surface. The trends in basicity found with BF3 are the opposite of those found from the heat of adsorption of CO2, a common probe molecule used to investigate the basicity of oxide surfaces. The use of BF3 as a probe molecule is complicated by some dissociation and the slow build up of surface boron and fluorine during consecutive thermal desorption runs.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.