Bismuth Substitution in HSbOI with Positively-charged Oxide Clusters

Abstract

We synthesized a Bi-substituted solid solution in [H10.7Sb32.1O44][H2.1Sb2.1I8O6][Sb0.76I6]2·25H2O (HSbOI), a recently discovered acid catalyst with positively charged clusters. Up to 5% of the antimony sites were substituted, resulting in an enlarged lattice and a smaller bandgap. EXAFS measurements show that the Bi cations are selectively located in the octahedral cluster. However, the Bi-substitution deteriorated catalytic properties, implying the potential of modifying characteristics of surface protons in large clusters. Bi-substituted solid solution in [H10.7Sb32.1O44][H2.1Sb2.1I8O6][Sb0.76I6]2·25H2O (HSbOI), a recently discovered acid catalyst with positively charged clusters, has been synthesized. The Bi cations are exclusively positioned in the small octahedral clusters, resulting in an enlarged lattice and a smaller bandgap. The alterations in the catalytic properties imply strong interactions among the three distinct types of clusters.