KINETICS OF THE CATALYZED DECOMPOSITION OF N2H5-DELTA( BY THE CERAMICSUPERCONDUCTOR YBA2CU3O7)

Evidence of the catalysed decomposition of N2H4 and its salts by a Y-B a-Cu-O superconductor is presented. A thermostated aqueous suspension of the superconductor, treated with a solution of N2H5+Cl-, produced n itrogen and hydrogen gases, whose volumes were measured at intervals i n a gas burette. Two simultaneous reactions are suggested for the reac tion between the N2H5+ solution and Y-Ba-Cu-O. One is the reduction of Cu3+ ions in Y-Ba-Cu-O to Cu2+ producing nitrogen, and the other is t he catalysed decomposition of N2H5+ by Cu2+ ions in Y-Ba-Cu-O, produci ng nitrogen and hydrogen. The rates of hydrogen evolution at different initial concentrations of N2H5+ are given. First-order kinetics at th e initial stages of the N2H5+/Y-Ba-Cu-O reaction were obtained. A comp arison between the total nitrogen and hydrogen gases liberated from th e reaction shows that the reduction reaction goes faster than the cata lysed one. The rate of the catalysed reaction is increased as the init ial concentration of the N2H5+ solution increases.