Non-localized charge compensation in zeolites: A periodic DFT study of cationic gallium-oxide clusters in mordenite

Periodic DFT calculations show that stability of binuclear cationic gallium–oxo clusters in high-silica zeolites is mainly controlled by the favorable geometrical environment of the Ga3+ ions, whereas the effect of the direct interaction with the charge-compensating framework anionic sites is less important. Extraframework cyclic Ga2O2+2 cations are shown to be active for light alkane dehydrogenation.