August 16, 2012
Journal Article

Alcohol Dehydration on Monooxo W=O and Dioxo O=W=O Species

Abstract

The dehydration of 1-propanol on nanoporous WO3 films prepared via ballistic deposition at ~20 K has been investigated using temperature programmed desorption, infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory. The as deposited films are extremely efficient in 1-propanol dehydration to propene. This activity is correlated with the presence of dioxo O=W=O groups while monooxo W=O species are shown to be inactive. Annealing of the film induces densification that results in the loss of catalytic activity due to annihilation O=W=O species.

Revised: October 5, 2012 | Published: August 16, 2012

Citation

Li Z., B. Smid, Y. Kim, V. Matolin, B.D. Kay, R.J. Rousseau, and Z. Dohnalek. 2012. Alcohol Dehydration on Monooxo W=O and Dioxo O=W=O Species. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 3, no. 16:2168-2172. PNNL-SA-88790. doi:10.1021/jz300885v