FTIR spectroscopic evidence of formation of geminal dinitrogen species during the low-temperature N2 adsorption on NaY zeolites

Adsorption of N2 on NaY zeolites at 85 K and equilibrium pressures higher than 1 kPa results in the formation of geminal dinitrogen complexes characterized by an IR band at 2333.5 cm−1 (2255.4 cm−1 after adsorption of 15N2). With decreasing equilibrium pressure the complexes tend to loose one N2 ligand, thus forming linear species characterized by an IR band at 2336.8 cm−1 (2258.7 cm−1 after adsorption of 15N2). All species disappear completely after evacuation. Co-adsorption of N2 and CO revealed that the dinitrogen complexes are formed on Na+ cations. The changes in the concentrations of the linear and geminal N2 species with the changes in the equilibrium pressure are excellently described by equations of adsorption isotherms proposed earlier for mono- and di-carbonyls.