X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and catalytic activity of $alpha;-zirconium phosphate and zirconium phosphate sulfophenylphosphonate

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) analyses were performed on α-zirconium phosphate (ZrP) and on an organic derivative of ZrP, zirconium phosphate sulfophenylphosphonate (ZrPS). The XPS results show that the change of half of the phosphate groups in ZrP to sulfophenylphosphonate groups in ZrPS changes the binding energy levels for some electrons in the solid. The XPS analyses also show that upon intercalation of Ru(bpy)3+ into ZrPS, the binding energies of the ruthenium and nitrogen atoms of the metal complex are unperturbed relative to the free complex. ZrP samples show increased catalytic activity for dehydration of cyclohexanol with increased acidity of the sample. However, no correlation between Zr 3d or O 1s binding energies and catalytic activity was found.