Insights into the Catalytic Activity of Nitridated Fibrous Silica (KCC-1) Nanocatalysts from N-15 and Si-29 NMR Spectroscopy Enhanced by Dynamic Nuclear Polarization

Fibrous nanosilica (KCC-1) oxynitrides are promising solid-base catalysts. Paradoxically, when their nitrogen content increases, their catalytic activity decreases. This counterintuitive observation is explained here for the first time using N-15-solid-state NMR spectroscopy enhanced by dynamic nuclear polarization.