Catalytic decomposition of N2O on cobalt substituted barium hexaferrites

Catalytic decomposition of N2O was studied over Co substituted Mg-Y type hexaferrites (Ba2Mg2-xCoxFe12O22, x = 0.4–2.0). The materials were synthesized by a sol-gel method using citric acid as the chelator followed by calcination at 1223 K for 5 h. X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis/derivative thermogravimetric, scanning electron microscopy, and N2 adsorption techniques were used to confirm the formation of hexaferrite. The Ba2Mg2-xCoxFe12O22 catalysts displayed good activity for decomposition of high concentration N2O (30 vol%), and complete substitution of Mg for Co lowered the complete conversion temperature from 1123 K to 973 K. Increasing calcination temperature suppressed the catalytic activity by deteriorating surface area. Moreover, coupling microwave discharge significantly boosted the catalytic activity. Co substituted Mg-Y type hexaferrites are potentially active and thermally stable to be used as catalyst for high concentration N2O decomposition.

Graphical abstractCo substituted barium hexaferrites displayed good activity for N2O decomposition. Complete substitution of Mg for Co lowered the complete conversion temperature from 1123 K to 973 K.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide