Rh2O3/hexagonal CePO4 nanocatalysts for N2O decomposition

Hexagonal CePO 4 nanorods were prepared by a precipitation method and hexagonal CePO 4 nanowires were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis at 150 °C. Rh (NO 3 ) 3 was then used as a precursor for the impregnation of Rh 2 O 3 onto these CePO 4 materials. The Rh 2 O 3 supported on the CePO 4 nanowires was much more active for the catalytic decomposition of N 2 O than the Rh 2 O 3 supported on CePO 4 nanorods. The stability of both catalysts as a function of time on stream was studied and the influence of the co-feed (CO 2 , O 2 , H 2 O or O 2 /H 2 O) on the N 2 O decomposition was also investigated. The samples were characterized by N 2 adsorption-desorption, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron microscopy, hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction, oxygen temperature-programmed desorption, and CO 2 temperature-programmed desorption in order to correlate the physicochemical and catalytic properties.