Reactions of Vanadium and Niobium Oxides with Methanol

Abstract

As part of an ongoing study in our laboratory to elucidate the reactivities of the group V metal oxide clusters, reactions between vanadium and niobium oxide cations and methanol were conducted using a guided ion beam mass spectrometer coupled to a laser vaporization source. Size-specific cluster reactions were identified, with some indicated products being the same as those formed in methanol reactions over condensed phase niobia and vanadia catalysts, namely, H 2 CO and C 2 H 6 O. The effects of the properties of the clusters, among them size, stoichiometry, oxidation state, and composition on their reactivity toward methanol, are discussed.