Surface characterization of hybrid heterogeneous catalysts

Time-of Flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) represents a sensitive surface analytical technique useful for solid materials studies. Detailed elemental, chemical state and rich molecular information of the investigated surface can be obtained. Therefore, this technique was widely used to provide useful information about the upper layer of many materials such as polymers, biomaterials, semiconductors and even catalysts.[1] In this work, we have investigated the surface properties of hybrid heterogeneous catalysts, and more precisely, organic groups modified aluminosilicate and niobium silicate catalysts. The main objective was to obtain precise information about the analyzed catalysts. We were looking to determine the chemical composition of the studied surface, the presence of organic groups, and an estimation of the active sites distribution. First, aluminosilicate samples with different chemical composition were prepared. They were synthesized with different aluminum loadings, different added organic groups and using two different synthesis routes. The obtained samples were then treated and analyzed using ToF-SIMS. The collected spectra were finally treated and valuable information about their surface properties were obtained.