Characterization of Chromium Cations in CrAPO-5 Metal Aluminophosphate

Chromium-substituted aluminophosphate (CrAPO-5) with the AFI crystal structure was prepared for the first time by using microwave conditions at the stage of gel formation and crystallization. This approach allowed the reduction of the time required for the synthesis of CrAPO-5 from 60–70 h to 6 h. CrAPO-5 metal aluminophosphate prepared by microwave-assisted synthesis is studied by UV-visible and IR spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The material is characterized by the presence of Cr3+ and Cr2+ ions in the framework with predominating Cr3+ ions introduced via isomorphous substitution, as well as some minor amounts of extra-framework Cr3+ species, which are present presumably in the state of α-Cr2O3. The latter species can be partially reduced to Cr2+ species in the presence of CO or H2. XPS study of CrAPO-5 revealed the presence of Cr3+ ions in the framework. A TPR experiment showed that the reduction of chromium starts at about 450–500 °C.