Unveiling the tailorable catalytic surface properties of ceria-promoted cobalt binary spinel catalysts for efficient N2O direct decomposition
Min Gie Jung, Jin Won Seo, Heon Phil Ha, Hwajun Lee, Jung‐Hyun Lee, Dong Wook Kwon
Abstract
• Co 2 Ce 1 catalyst achieved over 95 % N 2 O conversion at GHSV of 60,000 h −1 and 300 °C. • Co 2 Ce 1 catalyst enhanced N 2 O decomposition activity via increased oxygen vacancies • Ce doping weakened Co-O bonds and improved electron transfer, boosting activity. • Lewis acid sites played a critical role in enhancing N 2 O decomposition performance. Spinel-type oxides based on transition metals are a specific class of catalysts that have recently been highly regarded as active sites for enhancing N 2 O direct decomposition. The catalytic performance of Co x Ce y binary spinel catalysts was compared to that of single Co and Ce oxide catalysts. The Co 2 Ce 1 binary spinel catalyst exhibited superior N 2 O decomposition performance, achieving over 95 % N 2 O conversion at GHSV of 60,000 h −1 and 300 °C. Physicochemical analysis revealed that the Co 2 Ce 1 catalyst possessed the smallest particle size and the largest surface area, with Co occupying octahedral sites of Co spinel. Additionally, Ce weakened the Co-O bond and introduced abundant surface oxygen vacancies, basicity, and facilitated Co 2+ and Ce 3+ interactions on the catalyst surface. Furthermore, the number of Lewis acid sites emerged as a critical factor in N 2 O decomposition. The Co 2 Ce 1 catalyst demonstrated promising potential for efficient N 2 O decomposition at lower temperatures.