Investigation of the surface structure and activity of molybdenum oxide-containing catalysts : I. An infrared study of the surface structure of molybdena-alumina catalysts

A comparison has been made of the infrared spectra of alumina with molybdenum oxide-alumina in both the oxidized and reduced forms. In the case of molybdena-alumina prepared via adsorption of gaseous MoO2(OH)2, the spectra show that a practically complete monolayer of Mo6+ oxide covers the alumina. After reduction with hydrogen the hydroxyls of the carrier appear. From the reversibility of reduction and oxidation under mild conditions it has been established that the reduced oxide is present as an interrupted monolayer