M1-phase MoVTeNb
mixed oxides contain V-oxo species isolated by
dispersion in the Mo-oxo framework and one-dimensional heptagonal
micropores that tightly enclose C2H6 molecules.
These oxides catalyze C2H6 oxidation with C2H4 selectivity much higher than V2O5 oxides containing continuous V-oxo domains without micropores.
Here, effects of the structures of VO
x
domains and of the micropores on the selectivity are discerned using
(i) measured rate constant ratios and activation barrier differences
relevant to selectivity on the two oxides and (ii) density functional
theory (DFT) analysis of steps mediating C–H activation in
C2H6 and C2H5 radicals
and unselective C–O bond formations in C2H5 radicals and C2H4 molecules on (001) surfaces
of both oxides and in pores of MoVTeNb oxides. The DFT-derived values
of kinetic parameters representing C2H4 selectivities
and activation energy differences between C2H4 formation and C–O bond formation steps on V2O5(001) are similar to measured values. In contrast, for MoVTeNb
oxides, the DFT-derived selectivity inside the pores is much higher
than measurements, while that on the (001) surfaces is much lower,
suggesting that measured selectivity represents contributions from
C–H activations inside the pores and unselective steps inside
pores as well as on (001) surfaces. The selectivity on (001) surfaces
is similar in V2O5 and MoVTeNb oxides, indicating
that the isolation of V-oxo domains within this surface leads to only
small changes in selectivity, while the pores lead to much higher
selectivity. The descriptors of the selectivity trends on such transition
metal oxide surfaces are derived by examining C2H4 epoxidation and C2H6 C–H activation
transition-state energies and molecule-surface van der Waals (vdW)
interactions and steric forces that influence these energies on a
variety of O atoms with different electronic and structural properties
on (001) surfaces and inside the pores. High C2H4 selectivity requires that the O atoms in oxides exhibit lower tendency
to form C–O bonds in C2H4 than to activate
C–H bonds in C2H6, which depends strongly
on the H atom addition energies of oxides and O atom coordination.
V2–O–V tri-coordinated and V–O–V
or V–O–Mo bridging O atoms require significantly greater
energy penalty than VO terminal O atoms for the metal–oxygen
framework distortions required for forming C–O bonds; these
distortion energies reflect steric hindrance to forming C–O
bonds, which leads to higher epoxidation transition-state energy and
indicates higher C2H4 selectivity in tri-coordinated
and bridging O atoms. The high selectivity inside the heptagonal pores
originates from the inaccessibility to terminal O atoms in addition
to much stronger vdW interactions and more significant steric distortion
energies in tight pores. These analyses suggest that H atom addition
energies, vdW interaction energies, and catalyst distortion energies
are relevant descriptors of selectivity for both intrapore and external
O atoms.