Metallic Clusters and Color Changes in Silver-Exchanged Zeolites: 109Ag Solid State NMR and Optical Studies

Abstract

We have applied 109Ag solid-state NMR and optical methods to probe dynamics and local environment of silver cations in a series of silver-exchanged zeolites as a function of hydration. In dehydrated samples of Ag−Rho, a Knight shift produced by the conduction electrons of metallic silver particles with cluster size above 400 A is observed. Temperature dependent color change upon dehydration in zeolites Ag−X and Ag−A is also present. Although the color change in both zeolites is optically similar, NMR spectra demonstrate that fundamentally different effects lead to the color change. The color change in Ag−X zeolite is accompanied by stronger interaction of silver cations with the zeolite substrate that causes a paramagnetic contribution to the Ag shift as dehydration occurs. In Ag−A zeolite the loss of coordinated water dominates the dynamics of silver cations and leads to a more shielded Ag NMR signal upon dehydration.