Structural aspects of the M1 and M2 phases in MoVNbTeO propane ammomidation catalysts

The structures of M1 and M2 in MoVNbTeO propane ammoxidation catalysts have been solved using a combination of TEM, neutron powder diffraction, and synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction. The unit cell of M1 is Pba2 (No. 32) with a = 21.134(2) Angstrom, b = 26.658(2) Angstrom, c = 4.0146(3) Angstrom and Z = 4. The formula unit is Mo7.8V1.2NbTe0.937O28.9. The unit cell of M2 is Pmm2 (No. 25) with a = 12.6294(6) Angstrom, b = 7.29156(30) Angstrom, c = 4.02010(7) Angstrom and Z = 4. The formula Unit is Mo4.31V1.36Te1.81Nb0.33O19.81. Tellurium sites in hexagonal channels of both phases are displaced toward vanadium-occupied framework sites, whereas Te in the heptagonal channel of M1 is near the channel center. The chemical topology resulting from oxidation states and Madelung site potentials presents active moieties for the ammoxidation of propane in M1 and propene in M2. EPR confirmed the presence of V4+ and possibly Mo5+ in M1 and V4+ in M2.