Studies on the catalytic decomposition of nitrous oxide on lanthanum cobaltate

The catalyst LaCo<inf>2</inf>O<inf>4</inf> crystallizing in CaFe<inf>2</inf>O<inf>4</inf> type structure has been synthesized and its physicochemical characteristics evaluated. The kinetics of decomposition of nitrous oxide, studied in the temperature range 400-460°C at 50 and 200 Torr of the reactant gas, was found to obey an expression corresponding to strong inhibition by product oxygen. A reaction mechanism has been proposed based on the existence of Co²⁺-O^2--Co³⁺ clusters on the surface. © 1984 Akadémiai Kiadó.