Structure and catalytic performance of Mo dimer oxy-carbide species in NaY supercages Original Research Article

Mo dimer oxy-carbide species were synthesized in the supercage of NaY zeolite by adsorption of Mo(CO)6 vapor at saturation, followed by thermal decomposition in vacuum. TPD, EXAFS, XPS and XRF data revealed that a Mo dimer was attached in a supercage by a saturation adsorption–thermal decomposition at 573 K and that up to four Mo dimers in a supercage were stepwisely formed without aggregation after four cycles. The Mo dimer oxy-carbide species exhibited a unique methanol decomposition reaction to produce CH4, CO2, and H2 in an approximate ratio of 1 : 1 : 2. This reaction was characteristic of the Mo dimer oxy-carbide species and was never observed for other Mo species such as oxidized and reduced Mo species in NaY supercages.