Synthesis of amorphous aluminosilicates by grafting: Tuning the building and final structure of the deposit by selecting the appropriate synthesis conditions

Despite their wide use in the oil refining process, little is known about the distribution of aluminium and silicon atoms in amorphous aluminosilicates (ASAs). In this paper, we report the synthesis of both Al/SiO2 and Si/Al2O3 ASAs by grafting aluminium and silicon alkoxides on silica respectively alumina under various conditions. For both supports, we evidence the central roles of the precursor molecule size and reactivity in the grafting yield and the deposit structure. Unless hydrolysis of the alkoxy groups by water and/or thermal decomposition occurs, deposition is saturated at a monolayer of precursor molecules on the support oxide surface. Additional species can be deposited by repeating the grafting process provided that hydroxyl groups of the top layer are recovered after calcination. 27Al NMR indicates the presence of five-coordinated aluminium species on Al/SiO2 materials prepared by two successive grafting steps. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) confirm the controlled deposition of species by selecting the appropriate synthesis conditions. Homogeneous and regular deposition is favoured in anhydrous condition and at low temperature, while water addition during synthesis leads to inhomogeneous deposits. In case of Al/SiO2 grafting in aqueous conditions, alumina nanoparticles form. The accurate knowledge of the surface structure of these ASAs opens the way to a better understanding of the origin of their Brönsted acidity