Solid state 1 H and 31 P NMR spectroscopy was used to characterize wellcrystallized hydroxyapatite samples of different stoichiometry prepared by a precipitation route. The aim of the paper was to investigate the bulk structural features of samples with different stoichiometry and to discriminate signals related to the surface from those related to the bulk. Thanks to the implementation of (i) in situ thermal pretreatment at 623 K, (ii) filling of the NMR rotor in a controlled atmosphere, (iii) relative proton enrichment of the surface performed under controlled isotopic H-D exchanges, and (iv) specific NMR sequences including inversion recovery measurements, two-dimensional HETCOR and DQSQ spectra, new resolved NMR signals originating from the surface and from the bulk were identified alongside already reported signals associated with adsorbed water, structural phosphates, and OH groups. In particular, considering the influence of the stoichiometry, it was possible to identify a specific signature associated with defective hydrogenophosphate groups present in the bulk. Despite the well-ordered surface terminations of the nanoparticles, specific surface signals associated with nonprotonated and protonated surface terminating phosphate groups could be identified. In addition, from the three resolved 1 H signals associated with columnar OH channels, two from the bulk and one from the surface, a structural model describing the relative organization of hydroxyl groups running along the c axis inside the columnar OH channel in the well-crystallized particles is proposed: the two types of bulk hydroxyls are associated with the presence of both up and down orientations of their related protons in a same tunnel. Corresponding 1 H signatures of the surface-terminating hydroxyls or structured water molecules emerging from the OH channels were also identified. Moreover, in addition to the broad 5.1 ppm line associated with water adsorbed on calcium cations and hydrogenophosphate groups, the 1.1 ppm line is ascribed to structured external water molecules stacking in continuity to the OH channels.
The dealumination of BEA zeolite by treatment with concentrated nitric acid is evidenced by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Two-dimensional 27Al 3Q and 5Q magic-angle-spinning (MAS) NMR allow the detection of two kinds of tetrahedral Al atoms whose relative amounts depend on the Si/Al ratio and which correspond to two specific T-sites. 29Si MAS NMR and 1H MAS NMR measurements confirm these results. 29Si MAS NMR spectra evidence two resonances at around −114 and −111 ppm ascribed to Si sites of the Si(OSi)4 environment of two different crystallographic sites. Moreover, the presence of Si atoms associated with hydroxyl groups is confirmed by a resonance at −102 ppm when 1H−29Si CP is applied. The Brønsted and Lewis acidic sites in dealuminated BEA zeolites are evidenced by FTIR spectra of adsorbed pyridine which show two kinds of bridging hydroxyl groups (Si−O(H)−Al) of different acid strength. 51V MAS NMR confirms the incorporation of vanadium atoms into vacant T-atom sites of a fully dealuminated SiBEA zeolite leading to two kinds of tetrahedral V(V) sites (δiso = – 708 and – 766 ppm), with a V=O double bond and linked by V−OSi bonds to the framework. The two types of tetrahedral V(V) sites are in line with the two kinds of tetrahedral Al sites initially present in the zeolite. Moreover, the two bands at 3620 and 3645 cm−1 suggest that VSiBEA also contains V(V) sites with V(V)O−H groups, which exhibit Brønsted acidic character as shown by FTIR of adsorbed pyridine. Possible ways for the formation of tetrahedral V(V) in the BEA structure are proposed.
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