The state of nickel ions in two BEA zeolites was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature-programmed
reduction (TPR), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy using CO and NO as probe molecules.
One of the samples, NiAlBEA (0.9 wt % of Ni), was prepared by conventional ion exchange, and the other,
NiSiBEA (1.0 wt % Ni), was prepared by a two-step postsynthesis method involving dealuminated SiBEA
zeolite. No structural changes are observed with AlBEA after ion exchange with nickel. In contrast, the
incorporation of Ni into SiBEA leads to an increase of unit cell parameters of the BEA structure and to the
consumption of silanol groups in vacant T-sites of the dealuminated zeolite. In the NiAlBEA sample Ni
shows three TPR peaks in the region of 600−1100 K, whereas one sharp peak at 650 K with a shoulder at
750 K is observed with the NiSiBEA sample. Adsorption of CO at 100 K on NiAlBEA results in formation
of Ni2+−CO species (2200 and 2214 cm-1). The latter are partially converted, at high coverages, to Ni2+(CO)2 dicarbonyls (2206−2204 cm-1). Reduction of the sample with CO leads to generation of Ni+ ions.
The latter form, with CO, different carbonyl species that are in equilibrium: (i) Ni+−CO (2113 cm-1), (ii)
Ni+(CO)2 (νs at 2138 cm-1 and νas at 2095 cm-1), and (iii) Ni+(CO)3 (2157, 2122, and 2113 cm-1). The
polycarbonyl structures were proven by 12CO−13CO coadsorption. In line with these results, NO adsorption
on NiAlBEA leads to formation of two kinds of nitrosyl species (1905 and 1897 cm-1). Adsorption of CO
at 100 K on NiSiBEA leads to formation of several kinds of Ni2+−CO species observed in the 2196−2170
cm-1 region. The intensity of the bands was low, suggesting the majority of incorporated nickel ions are
coordinatively saturated or inaccessible and thus not able to form carbonyls. Negligible amounts of Ni+ ions
were present on the activated sample and formed various (poly)carbonyls. In this case the reduction hardly
affected the state of the sample. Most of the nickel ions in NiSiBEA were not able to coordinate NO; the
others formed nitrosyl complexes (1872−1845 cm-1) which were much less stable (up to 323 K) than those
observed with NiAlBEA.