The speciation of cobalt ethanediamine (en) complexes [Co(en)
x(H
2O)
6-2x]
2+ (
x = 1, 2, and 3) in aqueoussolution changes when a silica support is introduced into the solution ((en/Co = 1), (en/Co = 2), and (en/Co= 3) preparations). The pH-buffering effect of the silica support causes speciation shifts, especially for theprecursor complex [Co(en)
2(H
2O)
2]
2+ in solution, which transform into [Co(en)
1(H
2O)
4]
2+, as the main species.Once adsorbed on silica and after drying (25 and 100
![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
C), UV-visible and XAS characterization show that,for the (en/Co = 1) and (en/Co = 2) preparations, the Co(en)
1 complexes form dimers bonded to silicathrough one silanol group per Co ([(SiO)(en)(H
2O)
2Co
II]
2(
![](/images/entities/mgr.gif)
-O)). For the (en/Co = 3) preparation, the adsorbedCo(II) complexes are monomeric and contain two ethanediamine ligands. Upon drying at 100
![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
C, residualwater molecules in the coordination sphere of adsorbed Co(II) complexes may be lost reversibly, causing theestablishment of an octahedral/tetrahedral coordination equilibrium. Upon calcination at 450
![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
C, theethanediamine ligands are eliminated. The monomeric complex in (en/Co = 3) probably becomes graftedonto silica through two bonds ((SiO)
2Co
II(OH
2)
4), while the dimer initially formed in (en/Co = 1) and (en/Co= 2) mostly gives rise to species reminiscent of Co silicate germs.