Infrared Absorption Spectra of Silica Gel-H216O, D216O, and H218O Systems

Abstract Infrared absorption spectra of the systems of silica gel - H216O,D216O,H218O, and some organic vapors were measured in order to assign the bands senstive to adsorption at 870 and around 950 cm−1. Deuteration of silica gel caused the absorption decrease at 870 cm−1 and the appearance of a band at 620 cm−1. The band around 950 cm−1 appearing by adsorption not only of water but also of organic vapors showed no shift on deuteration, but shifted toward low frequency side by 25 cm−1 on the substitution of 16O of surface silanol groups with 18O. From these facts the bands at 870, 620 and 950 cm−1 were assgned to Si–OH bending, Si–OD bending and Si–O stretching vibrations of surface silanol groups, respectively. The oxygen atom of silanol groups of silca gel was found to exchange with that of adsorbed water molecules even at room temperature for a sample treated at temperature below 300°C. On the other hand, higher reaction temperature of ca. 200°C was necessary for a sample calcined at 800°C. mechanism of the oxygen atom exchange recation was discussed.