Direct decomposition of nitric oxide into nitrogen and oxygen over C-type cubic Y2O3-ZrO2 solid solutions

C-type cubic yttria-zirconia (Y2O3-ZrO2) Solid solutions were found to exhibit high activity in NO direct decomposition. Effects of Zr4+ substitution for Y3+ in (Y1-xZrx)(2)O3+x solid solutions were studied on the catalytic activity in the direct decomposition of NO. Among several compositions investigated in this study, the highestNO conversion was observed for (Y0.94Zr0.06)(2)O-3.06.On this catalyst, NO conversion was enhanced with increasing the reaction temperature, and at 1000 degrees C, NO direct conversion into N-2 attained the value of 44%. This result suggests that the C-type cubic yttria-zirconia solid solutions are also the potential candidates for the NO direct decomposition catalysts at elevated temperatures. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.