Location of Cu(2+) in CHA zeolite investigated by X-ray diffraction using the Rietveld/maximum entropy method

A theoretical study of nitric oxide adsorption and dissociation on copper-exchanged zeolites SSZ-13 and SAPO-34: the impact of framework acid-base properties

The adsorption of nitric oxide as dinitrosyls and the deNOx proton-mediated reaction mechanism are assessed using electronic structure methods and transition state theory. Dinitrosyls bind to copper cations either via a N-atom or via an O-atom, with N-binding being more stable. In their ground states, dinitrosyls reach a planar configuration with the metal cation. The two nitric oxide molecules are kept together in O-bonded dinitrosyls by the N-N bond and the adsorption complex obtains a cyclic planar structure, while N-bonded dinitrosyls have out-of-plane conformations with low energy barriers. An asymmetric structure ZCu(ON)(NO) with one N-bonded nitrosyl and the other O-bonded is of the lowest stability. The cyclic hyponitrite ZCu(ON)2 adsorption complex undergoes O-N bond breaking upon protonation of one oxygen atom and this lowers the energy barrier of the first reaction step of nitric oxide dissociation to yield N2O and a hydroxylated copper site ZCu(OH) by 45 kJ mol(-1) for Cu-SAPO-34 and by 46 kJ mol(-1) for Cu-SSZ-13. The more stable N-bonded dinitrosyl ZCu(NO)2 provides less favorable reaction which passes through the asymmetric ZCu(ON)(NO) intermediate structure. Brønsted acid sites facilitate the reversal of one nitrosyl group. The role of proton transfer from a Brønsted acid site to dinitrosyls is not limited to the initial step of facilitating the N-O bond cleavage, but it also contributes to the stabilization of intermediate oxygen species formed at the copper site as hydroxide ZCu(OH) and hydroperoxide, ZCuOOH. Without protonation, the unstable ZCuO intermediate causes structural deformation with strongly lengthened T-O bonds in the framework. The rate determining step is N2O decomposition to N2 and O2, whether starting with a ZCu(NO)2 or a ZCu(ON)2 adsorption complex, and Cu-SSZ-13 has a clear advantage with an energy barrier of 195 kJ mol(-1)vs. 265 kJ mol(-1) for Cu-SAPO-34. In the final step the Brønsted acid site is restored by proton transfer from the hydroperoxide ZCuOOH to the framework and molecular oxygen is released. The overall energy barrier for the proton-assisted reaction of ZCu(ON)2 decomposition for Cu-SSZ-13 is by 48 kJ mol(-1) lower than the barrier of the proton-free pathway.

Nitrate–nitrite equilibrium in the reaction of NO with a Cu-CHA catalyst for NH3-SCR

A multi-technique in situ study of the reaction between NO and Cu-nitrates in the Cu-CHA deNO_x catalyst yields novel structural and spectroscopic insights into the equilibrium between Cu-nitrates and Cu-nitrites, which was proposed as key step in the NH₃-SCR cycle.

Correlation between Cu ion migration behaviour and deNOx activity in Cu-SSZ-13 for the standard NH3-SCR reaction

Here we present the results of a synchrotron-based in situ, time-resolved PXRD study during activation of two Cu-SSZ-13 catalysts under O₂/He and one during standard NH₃-SCR reaction conditions to obtain insight into the migration behaviour of Cu ions.

Advances in theory and their application within the field of zeolite chemistry

Zeolites are versatile and fascinating materials which are vital for a wide range of industries, due to their unique structural and chemical properties, which are the basis of applications in gas separation, ion exchange and catalysis. Given their economic impact, there is a powerful incentive for smart design of new materials with enhanced functionalities to obtain the best material for a given application. Over the last decades, theoretical modeling has matured to a level that model guided design has become within reach. Major hurdles have been overcome to reach this point and almost all contemporary methods in computational materials chemistry are actively used in the field of modeling zeolite chemistry and applications. Integration of complementary modeling approaches is necessary to obtain reliable predictions and rationalizations from theory. A close synergy between experimentalists and theoreticians has led to a deep understanding of the complexity of the system at hand, but also allowed the identification of shortcomings in current theoretical approaches. Inspired by the importance of zeolite characterization which can now be performed at the single atom and single molecule level from experiment, computational spectroscopy has grown in importance in the last decade. In this review most of the currently available modeling tools are introduced and illustrated on the most challenging problems in zeolite science. Directions for future model developments will be given.

Recent advances in automotive catalysis for NOx emission control by small-pore microporous materials

The ever increasing demand to develop highly fuel efficient engines coincides with the need to minimize air pollution originating from the exhaust gases of internal combustion engines. Dramatically improved fuel efficiency can be achieved at air-to-fuel ratios much higher than stoichiometric. In the presence of oxygen in large excess, however, traditional three-way catalysts are unable to reduce NOx. Among the number of lean-NOx reduction technologies, selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx by NH3 over Cu- and Fe-ion exchanged zeolite catalysts has been extensively studied over the past 30+ years. Despite the significant advances in developing a viable practical zeolite-based catalyst for lean NOx reduction, the insufficient hydrothermal stabilities of the zeolite structures considered cast doubts about their real-world applicability. During the past decade renewed interest in zeolite-based lean NOx reduction was spurred by the discovery of the very high activity of Cu-SSZ-13 (and the isostructural Cu-SAPO-34) in the NH3-SCR of NOx. These new, small-pore zeolite-based catalysts not only exhibited very high NOx conversion and N2 selectivity, but also exhibited exceptionally high hydrothermal stability at high temperatures. In this review we summarize the key discoveries of the past ∼5 years that led to the introduction of these catalysts into practical applications. This review first briefly discusses the structure and preparation of the CHA structure-based zeolite catalysts, and then summarizes the key learnings of the rather extensive (but not complete) characterisation work. Then we summarize the key findings of reaction kinetic studies, and provide some mechanistic details emerging from these investigations. At the end of the review we highlight some of the issues that still need to be addressed in automotive exhaust control catalysis.

Ammonia-Containing Species Formed in Cu-Chabazite As Per In Situ EPR, Solid-State NMR, and DFT Calculations

Nowadays, the most attractive technology for the elimination of nitric oxides from the exhaust gas of diesel vehicles is the selective catalytic reduction with ammonia (NH3-SCR-NOx) using Cu zeolite with the chabazite structure as the catalyst. Isolated copper species are the active sites, but the reaction intermediates and the overall reaction mechanism are still under debate. Here, we study the interaction of ammonia with zeolite Cu-SSZ-13 (CHA topology) with a uniform distribution of Cu(2+) sites prepared in one pot and a conventional Cu-ZSM-5 (MFI topology) for comparison. In situ EPR and solid-state NMR spectroscopies combined with DFT calculations have allowed the identification of NH4(+), [Cu(NH3)5](2+), [Cu(Of)2(NH3)2](2+), [Cu(Of)3NH3](2+), [Cu(NH3)2](+), and [CuOf(NH3)](+) (Of being framework oxygen) under different conditions. The results demonstrate that ammonia is able to reduce Cu(2+) to Cu(+) and provide new information on the species formed in Cu-SSZ-13, which have important implications for the elucidation of the SCR reaction mechanism.

Revisiting the nature of Cu sites in the activated Cu-SSZ-13 catalyst for SCR reaction

Cu-SSZ-13 is a highly active NH3-SCR catalyst for the abatement of harmful nitrogen oxides (NO x , x = 1, 2) from the exhausts of lean-burn engines. The study of Cu-speciation occurring upon thermal dehydration is a key step for the understanding of the enhanced catalytic properties of this material and for identifying the SCR active sites and their redox capability. Herein, we combined FTIR, X-ray absorption (XAS) and emission (XES) spectroscopies with DFT computational analysis to elucidate the nature and location of the most abundant Cu sites in the activated catalyst. Different Cu species have been found to be dominant as a function of the dehydration temperature and conditions. Data analysis revealed that the dehydration process of Cu cations is essentially completed at 250 °C, with the formation of dehydrated [CuOH]+ species hosted in close proximity to 1-Al sites in both d6r and 8r units of the SSZ-13 matrix. These species persist at higher temperatures only if a certain amount of O2 is present in the gas feed, while under inert conditions they undergo virtually total "self-reduction" as a consequence of an OH extra-ligand loss, resulting in bi-coordinated bare Cu+ cations. Synchrotron characterization supported by computational analysis allowed an unprecedented quantitative refinement of the local environment and structural parameters of these Cu(ii) and Cu(i) species.