The influence of electric charging on the catalytic ability of organoboron nanoparticles

The catalytic decomposition of ammonia on (C 2 B 10 H 4 ) n composition organoboron nanoparticles deposited on the substrates of SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , and highly ordered pyrolytic graphite at T = 750 K and p = 1 × 10 –6 Torr is investigated. It is found that the substrate material has a significant effect on the rate of decomposition of NH 3 . Replacing the SiO 2 substrate by Al 2 O 3 and graphite increases decomposition rate by 1.9 and 2.3 times. The possibility of controlling the speed of ammonia decomposition on organoboron nanoparticles by applying thereto an electric potential of different polarity and magnitude with an external voltage source is shown. The decomposition rate is increased by 26% at the positive potential of particles φ = +6 V and is reduced by 37% at the negative potential φ =–6 V compared to the ammonia decomposition rate at the ground potential of the particles.