The electronic structure of Cu+, Ag+, and Au+ zeolites

A variety of procedures have been used to prepare d(10)-zeolite materials. The electronic structure of these materials can be regarded to a first approximation as a superposition of the framework, of the charge compensating ions, of solvent molecules and of guest species. Zeolite oxygen to d(10)-ion charge transfer transitions dominate the electronic spectra if the ions coordinate to the zeolite oxygens. Specific coordination sites can influence the energy and the intensity of these transitions remarkably. Intra guest transitions dominate in quantum dot materials, as discussed in detail for luminescent Ag2S zeolite A. The zeolite is not needed for the photocatalytic water oxidation on Ag+/AgCl photo anodes with visible light. It can, however, be used to increase the active surface area substantially.