Effect of a radiational charge on the catalytic activity of yttrium and neodymium oxides

Solids dosed with radioactive isotopes, or exposed to ionization radiation, contain nonequilibrated electrons and holes, various types of structural defects, and nuclear reaction products, while static charges of considerable magnitude appear on their surfaces. Each type of radiational modification exerts some effect on the catalytic activity of the solid. The introduction of radioactive isotopes into the rare-earth oxides not only gives rise to the appearance of nonequilibrated electrons and holes, but also increases the electron-to-hole ratio, thereby altering the selectivity of the oxide in catalyzing the breakdown of alcohols. The present work was a study of the effect of the radiational charge on catalytic reactions. Investigation was made of the breakdown of isopropanol adsorbed on Y/sub 2/O/sub 3/ and Nd/sub 2/O/sub 3/, model rare-earth oxides. Since these oxides are poor conductors, it was anticipated that static charges of considerable magnitude might accumulate on their surfaces.