Abstract
The Near-Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (NEXAFS) technique and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) were utilized to investigate the reaction of CH4 and O2 on the MoO3/SiO2 catalyst. The NEXAFS results showed that the stoichiometry of the molybdenum oxide catalyst supported on silica was MoO3. MoO3 was reduced to MoO2 when the catalyst was exposed to CH4 at 773 K. NEXAFS results confirm that lattice oxygen is directly related to the process of CH4 oxidation which takes place on the surface of MoO3/SiO2 catalysts. DSC results show that the structure of MoO3 changes around 573 K and this structural change seems to improve the migration of oxygen in the lattice.