Silver‐Doped Cobalt (Magnesium) Aluminum Mixed Metal Oxides as Potential Catalysts for Nitrous Oxide Decomposition

Abstract N 2 O is a potent greenhouse gas released among others in nitric and adipic acid production as well as from stationary and mobile combustion sources. A catalytic decomposition is highly attractive but requires catalysts active over a broad temperature range and in the presence of inhibiting compounds such as NO and O 2 . Ag‐doped Co‐(Mg)‐Al‐O x mixed metal oxides obtained by the coprecipitation of metal nitrate precursors followed by calcination were evaluated as potential catalysts for N 2 O decomposition (deN 2 O) also in the presence of NO and/or O 2 . Ag integration during synthesis proved to be essential for superior catalytic activity. The catalyst with the optimum composition, AgCo 3 Al‐O x (Co/Al=3:1 mol %, 1.0 wt % Ag), achieved full N 2 O conversion at 350 and 450 °C under N 2 O/N 2 and N 2 O/NO/O 2 /N 2 conditions, respectively. Catalyst characterization, with a focus on H 2 temperature‐programmed reduction and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, evidenced that abundant Ag 0 on the surface of (1.0–2.8 wt %)AgCo 3 Al‐O x enhanced the reduction of cobalt spinels to enable the superior catalytic performance.