CATALYTIC ACITVITY OF NICKEL IONS IN MAGNESIUM OXIDE FOR DECOMPOSITION OF NITROUS OXIDE

The catalytic activity of several MgONiO catalysts has been tested for the decomposition of N2O. The atomic nickel content ranges from 0.15% to 50%. It has been clearly shown that the activity per nickel ion is enhanced by the dilution. The occurrence of a minimum in the apparent activation energy in the region 1 to 10 at. % nickel is observed. The results are discussed in terms of the different ionic and electronic interactions which develop according to the nickel content. The determination of the catalytic activity on a lithium-containing catalyst confirms the results already established that the presence of lithium increases the apparent activation energy. © 1969.