Infrared study of pyridine adsorption on rutile and silica-coated rutile immersed in heptane

Abstract

The surface of rutile immersed in solutions of pyridine in heptane contains Lewis-acidic Ti⁴⁺ sites which are involved in coordinative interactions with adsorbed pyridine molecules. Different types of surface hydroxy group behave differently, one type forming hydrogen bonds with pyridine molecules. Treatment of rutile with silicon tetrachloride and water vapour resulted in a coated surface which behaved more like the surface of silica than of rutile in the presence of adsorbed pyridine.