GENERATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ALKALI-METAL CLUSTERS IN Y-FAU ZEOLITES - AN ESR AND MAS NMR SPECTROSCOPIC STUDY

Charged and neutral metal clusters of various compositions and sizes c an be prepared by controlling the alkali metal content by the decompos ition of alkali azides and the composition of the host zeolite by ion- exchange. ESR signals show that electron transfer from alkali metal at oms to alkali metal cations does occur, but in a direction opposite to that predicted by the gas-phase thermochemistry. Alkali metal cluster s proved to be very active basic catalytic centers. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.