Decomposition of N2O on Perovskite-Related Oxides

Mixed metal oxides crystalizing in a perovskite-related structure have long been of interest to solid state chemists and physicists because of their technologically important physical properties. The ready availability of a family of isomorphic solids with controllable physical properties makes these oxides suitable for basic research in catalysis. These mixed metal oxides are more advantageous and are better catalytic materials than simple oxides because: (i) the crystal structure can accomodate various metal ions and can stabilize unusual and mixed valence states of active metal ion; (ii) appropriate formulation of these oxides leads to easy tailoring of many desirable properties such as valence state of transition metal ion, distance between active sites, binding energy, diffusion of oxygen in the lattice, magnetic and conducting properties of the solid; (iii) the catalytic activity can be correlated to solid state properties since many of their solid state properties are thoroughly understood; (iv) the surface of these oxides can be regenerated by suitable activation procedure.