Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 6, 2026

Facile Preparation of Ultrafine Aluminum Hydroxide Particles with or without Mesoporous MCM-41 in Ambient Environments
Published on: May 11, 2017
Determining adsorbate configuration on alumina surfaces with (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation time
P A Vecino1, Z Huang, J Mitchell
1Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3RA, UK.
Abstract:
Relative strengths of surface interaction for individual carbon atoms in acyclic and cyclic hydrocarbons adsorbed on alumina surfaces are determined using chemically resolved (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) T1 relaxation times. The ratio of relaxation times for the adsorbed atoms T1,ads to the bulk liquid relaxation time T1,bulk provides an indication of the mobility of the atom. Hence a low T1,ads/T1,bulk ratio indicates a stronger surface interaction. The carbon atoms associated with unsaturated bonds in the molecules are seen to exhibit a larger reduction in T1 on adsorption relative to the aliphatic carbons, consistent with adsorption occurring through the carbon-carbon multiple bonds. The relaxation data are interpreted in terms of proximity of individual carbon atoms to the alumina surface and adsorption conformations are inferred. Furthermore, variations of interaction strength and molecular configuration have been explored as a function of adsorbate coverage, temperature, surface pre-treatment, and in the presence of co-adsorbates. This relaxation time analysis is appropriate for studying the behaviour of hydrocarbons adsorbed on a wide range of catalyst support and supported-metal catalyst surfaces, and offers the potential to explore such systems under realistic operating conditions when multiple chemical components are present at the surface.
More Related Videos
11:38In situ FTIR Spectroscopy as a Tool for Investigation of Gas/Solid Interaction: Water-Enhanced CO2 Adsorption in UiO-66 Metal-Organic Framework
Published on: February 1, 2020
07:40Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Structural and Dynamic Aspects of Glycan Molecular Recognition
Published on: May 17, 2024
Related Concept Videos
¹³C NMR: ¹H–¹³C Decoupling
A broadband decoupling technique is used to simplify these complex, sometimes overlapping, signals. Broadband decoupling relies on a...
Atomic Nuclei: Types of Nuclear Relaxation
In spin–lattice or longitudinal relaxation, the excited spins exchange energy with the surrounding lattice as they return to the lower energy level. Among several mechanisms that contribute to spin–lattice relaxation, magnetic dipolar interactions are significant. Here, the excited nucleus transfers...
Double Resonance Techniques: Overview
Spin decoupling is usually achieved by...
¹H NMR of Conformationally Flexible Molecules: Temporal Resolution
NMR Spectroscopy Of Amines
2D NMR: Overview of Homonuclear Correlation Techniques
COSY90 is the standard two-dimensional (2D) COSY experiment that...