Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy

The application of infrared (IR) spectroscopic methods in the field of heterogeneous catalysis research and development, mainly based on the original work of the author's group, is summarized. The fundamentals of vibrational spectroscopy are briefly described. The application of infrared spectroscopy in the catalyst skeletal region for structural characterization is considered. The spectra of pure powder-pressed discs of catalytic materials based on oxides or supported with insulating carriers are described. In particular, data arising from the spectra in the OH stretching region (surface and bulk hydroxyl groups) are considered. The absorptions due to the vibrations of surface metal-oxygen bonds are discussed. The use of infrared spectroscopy of surface molecular probes for the characterization of surface acid sites both of the Lewis and the Brønsted type is considered. The application of molecular probes for the infrared characterization of surface basicity and nucleophilicity is also taken into account. Finally, the use of probes for the characterization of the redox state of the surface as well as of the size/shape of metal nanoparticles is also considered. The application of IR spectroscopy for the analysis of reaction products is also briefly discussed.