Low-Temperature Synthesis and Catalytic Activity of Cobalt Ferrite in Nitrous Oxide (N2O) Decomposition Reaction

Cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) nanoparticles were synthesized and investigated as a catalyst in the reaction of nitrous oxide (N2O) decomposition. Cobalt ferrite was synthesized by solid–phase interaction at 1100 °C and by preliminary mechanochemical activation in a roller-ring vibrating mill at 400 °C. The nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), synchronous thermal analysis (TG and DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A low-temperature nitrogen adsorption/desorption test was used to evaluate the catalytic activity of the cobalt ferrite nanoparticles. Correlations between the structure and catalytic properties of the catalysts are reported. The highest catalytic activity of CoFe2O4 in the reaction of nitrous oxide decomposition was 98.1% at 475 °C for cobalt ferrite obtained by mechanochemical activation.