THERMAL-DECOMPOSITION OF VO(ACAC)(2) DEPOSITED ON THE SURFACES OF SILICA AND ALUMINA

A promising way to create supported metal oxide catalysts consists of the irreversible adsorption of metal acetylacetonate complexes on an o xide support and the subsequent thermolysis of the metal complexes. Th is study focuses on the adsorption and thermolysis of vanadyl acetylac etonate (VO(acac)(2)) on both silica and alumina supports and investig ates how the thermal decomposition of the supported complex influences the final catalytic activity of the VOx monolayer. The supported comp lex was subjected to thermal treatment both in vacuum and in ambient a ir and was analyzed in situ by infrared spectroscopy and thermogravime try. The adsorbed complex is very stable in vacuum conditions. A very distinct VOH vibration was observed during the thermolysis in air of t he silica-supported complex, and intermediate acetate species were obs erved for the alumina-supported complex.