Silica-zirconia mixed oxide samples by an hybrid materials based innovative preparation procedure: influence of preparation procedure and composition on active sites

In this work, the interaction of amorphous silica–zirconia mixed oxide samples obtained from inorganic–organic silica-based hybrid materials with pyridine and CO2 was studied to investigate their acid/base character. Several silica–zirconia mixed oxide powders characterized by different [Zr/Si] atomic ratios were prepared and treated at increasing temperatures both in a conventional muffle and with microwave technology. The powder samples were characterized with Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform (DRIFT) and X-ray Photoelectron (XP) spectroscopies. The surface acidic and basic active sites were investigated (with DRIFT spectroscopy) by chemisorbing probe molecules (pyridine, carbon dioxide). The obtained results revealed the presence of both Lewis and Brønsted acidic sites on the amorphous silica–zirconia mixed oxide powder surfaces. Several acidic sites characterized by different strength were observed; the acidic sites distribution is markedly influenced by the sample composition and by the heat treatment: more numerous acidic sites form on the surface of the samples treated with microwaves with respect to the muffle treated ones; the increment of the temperature and the decrease of the zirconium content cause a significant decrement of the acidic sites. No basic sites were revealed.