The interfacial chemistry of the impregnation step involved in the preparation of tungsten(VI) supported titania catalysts

An integrated work concerning the interfacial chemistry of the impregnation step involved in the preparation of tungsten(VI) supported titania catalysts is presented. Specifically, we investigated the mode of interfacial deposition of the W(VI) oxo-species at the “titania/impregnation solution” interface, the W(VI) interfacial speciation and the structure of the deposited species. Several methodologies based on potentiometric titrations, microelectrophoresis and macroscopic adsorption measurements have been used in conjunction with laser Raman spectroscopy and a modeling of the interfacial deposition process. The modeling was based on a recently established ionization model for the titania surface and a modern picture for the “titania/electrolytic solution” interface in the absence of the W(VI) oxo-species. It was found that the monomers, WO2−4, are exclusively deposited at the interface at relatively low W(VI) concentrations of the impregnation solution (image) and over the whole pH range studied (9–4). Three different monomers are formed: an inner sphere mono-substituted complex with the terminal surface oxygen atoms of titania (predominant species), a surface species where the WO2−4 ions are retained above a bridging surface hydroxyl through a hydrogen bond and an inner sphere di-substituted complex with two terminal surface oxygen atoms of titania. Their relative surface concentration depends strongly on the pH of the impregnation solution. At relatively high W(VI) concentrations of the impregnation solution (>10−3 M) the polymers W7O6−24, HW7O5−24 and H2W12O10−42 are deposited, in addition, in the pH range 7–4. These species are adsorbed through electrostatic forces on adsorption sites that involve 5–7 bridging and 5–7 terminal neighboring (hydr)oxo groups. It was generally found a preferential deposition of the monomers, WO2−4, with respect to the polymer ones. The mode of interfacial deposition, the interfacial speciation and the structure of the deposited W(VI) oxo-species, would be very useful for a tailor made preparation of the tungsten supported titania catalysts.