The surface nature of fresh Mo2N/Al2O3, Mo2C/Al2O3 and/MoP/Al2O3 catalysts, which were synthesized directly in the IR cell to avoid passivation, were characterized by in situ IR spectroscopy with CO as a probe molecule. CO adsorbed on fresh catalysts showed characteristic IR bands at 2045 cm-1 for Mo2N/Al2O3 catalyst, 2054 cm-1 for MozC/Al2O3 catalyst and 2037 cm-1 for MoP/Al2O3 catalyst, respectively. A strong band at 2200 cm-1 for Mo2N/Al2O3 catalyst, which could be ascribed to NCO species formed when CO reacted upon surface active nitrogen atoms, and a weak band at 2196 cm-1 for Mo2C/Al2O3 catalyst, which could be attributed to CCO species, were also detected. CO adsorbed on fresh Mo2N/Al2O3 catalyst, Mo2C/Al2O3 catalyst and MoP/Al2O3 catalyst, showed strong molecular adsorption, just like noble metals. Our experimental results are bolstered by direct IR evidence demonstrating the similarity in surface electronic property between the fresh Mo2N/Al2O3, Mo2C/Al2O3 and MoP/Al2O3 catalysts and noble metals.
The Ni-modified TiO2 was synthesized using two methods including co-precipitation(Ni doped TiO2, Ni-TiO2) and wet impregnation(Ni loaded TiO2, Ni/TiO2). The surface and bulk crystalline phases of Ni-modified TiO2 were investigated by using X-ray diffractometry(XRD), UV Raman spectroscopy, TEM, and SEM. It is observed that Ni doping can promote the phase transition and grain size growth of TiO2. Moreover, the propagation of the rutile phase from the bulk into the surface region of TiO2 is increased when the Ni doping amount reaches up to 3%. However, in Ni/TiO2, it is found out that the surface and bulk phase transformation of TiO2 can be inhibited after impregnation of 1% of Ni on the TiO2. Compared with the co-precipitation method, Ni species may be more enriched in the surface of the Ni/TiO2 sample upon adoption of the impregnation method, and the direct contact of anatase particles of TiO2 is avoided. As a consequence, the phase transition in the surface and bulk region of TiO2 can be effectively inhibited by Ni loading. Additionally, the activity of the photocatalytic degradation of RhB on the 3Ni-TiO2-600 ℃ sample is higher than that on the 3 Ni/TiO2-600 ℃ sample. The phase junction formed between anatase and rutile in the surface region of 3Ni-TiO2-600 ℃ may the main reason for its high photocatalytic activity.
Wang YanZhang JingLiu ShiyangYan SongWu WeichengXu QianLi Can
