The complexity of variables during incipient wetness impregnation synthesis of supported metal oxides precludes an in‐depth understanding of the chemical reactions governing the formation of the dispersed oxide sites. This contribution describes the use of vapor phase deposition chemistry (also known as grafting) as a tool to systematically investigate the influence of isopropanol solvent on VO(OiPr)3 anchoring during synthesis of vanadium oxide on silica. We find that the availability of anchoring sites on silica not only depends on the pretreatment of the silica but also on the solvent present. H‐bond donors can reduce the reactivity of isolated silanols whereas disruption of silanol nests by H‐bond acceptors can turn unreactive H‐bonded silanols into reactive anchoring sites. The model suggested here can inform improved syntheses with increased dispersion of metal oxides on silica.
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/aaron-rossini/68/
This is the peer-reviewed version of the following article: Love, A. M., M. C. Cendejas, M. P. Hanrahan, S. L. Carnahan, P. Uchupalanun, A. J. Rossini, and I. Hermans. "Understanding the Synthesis of Supported Vanadium Oxide Catalysts using Chemical Grafting." Chemistry-A European Journal (2019), which has been published in final form at 10.1002/chem.201904260. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving. Posted with permission.