FORMATION OF SUPEROXIDE RADICAL-ANIONS DURING CATALYTIC DECOMPOSITIONOF N2O ON PD ZRO2/

O-2(-) radical anions were revealed by EPR in decomposition of N2O on the surface of Pd/ZrO2 catalysts. Superoxide ions were generated in th e reaction, carried out both on the prereduced and preoxidized catalys ts; no generation of O-2(-) was observed on the preoxidized catalysts, when the catalysts reacted with molecular oxygen. The effect of activ ation of prereduced catalysts by the treatment with oxygen was observe d for the reaction of nitrous oxide decomposition. The role of the sup eroxide ion as an intermediate in the catalytic N2O decomposition was discussed.