Structure of rhodium in an ultradispersed rhodium/alumina catalyst as studied by EXAFS and other techniques

The structure of rhodium in an ultradispersed 0.57 wt % Rh/y-Al,O, catalyst before and after CO adsorption was studied with extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electron spin resonance (ESR), temperature programmed reduction (TPR), CO infrared spectroscopy, and H2 and CO chemisorption.With the aid of these complementary techniques, it could be established that the structure of the rhodium catalyst was completely different before and after CO adsorption.Before CO adsorption and after reduction of the catalyst at 593 K, all the rhodium was reduced and in the form of three-dimensional metallic crystallites.CO adsorption disrupted the metal-metal bonds in the crystallites, leading to isolated rhodium geminal dicarbonyl species in which the rhodium was present as Rh'.Each rhodium ion was surrounded by two carbon monoxide molecules and three oxygen anions of the support.