Publication at Faculty of Mathematics and Physics |
2012
Abstract
The dehydration of 1-propanol on nanoporous WO3 films prepared via ballistic deposition at similar to 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, whereas monooxo W=O species are shown to be inactive. Annealing of the films induces densification that results in the loss of catalytic activity due to the annihilation of O=W=O species.