The iron oxidation state in Mg–Al–Fe mixed oxides derived from layered double hydroxides: An XPS study

• Published in: Applied surface science 2008-05, Vol.254 (14), p.4297-4302
• Main Authors: Hadnadjev, M., Vulic, T., Marinkovic-Neducin, R., Suchorski, Y., Weiss, H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Electron and ion emission by liquids and solids; impact phenomena; Exact sciences and technology; Iron oxide; Layered double hydroxides; Mixed oxides; Photoemission and photoelectron spectra; Physics; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2008.01.063

Mixed oxides with large surface area and high thermal stability can be obtained by thermal treatment of the layered double hydroxides (LDH). Mg–Al–Fe mixed oxide samples with varying Mg/Al ratio and 5 mol.% of Fe were prepared in this way and the iron oxidation state (Fe ox) in these compounds was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), using a calibration based on the relation of Fe ox to the splitting between the O 1s and Fe 2p 3/2 centroids. The XPS results confirm Fe 3+ as a dominant oxidation state in the studied mixed oxides. A vacuum-induced reduction of iron in the Fe 2O 3 and Mg–Al–Fe oxide samples has been observed and an influence of the Mg:Al ratio on this effect in mixed oxides has been detected. The role of the local variations of the electron density distribution in the close neighbourhood of the surface oxygen atoms in the mixed oxides in the reduction processes is discussed.