A comparative investigation of NdSrCu1-xCoxO4-σ and Sm1:8Ce0:2Cu1-xCoxO4-σ(x: 0-0.4) for NO decomposition

A series of single-phase T-structured NdSrCu1??xCoxO4?? with oxygen vacancies and T0-structured Sm1:8Ce0:2Cu1??xCoxO4?? (x: 0–0.4) with oxygen excess were prepared using ultrasound-assisted citric acid complexing method, and characterized by means of techniques such as thermogravimetric analysis and NO temperature-programmed desorption (NO-TPD). The catalytic activities of these materials were evaluated for the decomposition of NO. It was found that the NdSrCu1??xCoxO4?? catalysts were of oxygen vacancies whereas the Sm1:8Ce0:2Cu1??xCoxO4?? ones possessed excessive oxygen (i.e., over-stoichiometric oxygen); with a rise in Co doping level, the oxygen vacancy density of NdSrCu1??xCoxO4?? decreased while the over-stoichiometric oxygen amount of Sm1:8Ce0:2Cu1??xCoxO4?? increased. The NO-TPD results revealed that NO could be activated much easier over the oxygen-deficient perovskite-like oxides than over the oxygen-excessive perovskite-like oxides, with the NdSrCuO3:702 catalyst showing the best e ciency in activating NO molecules. Under the conditions of 1.0% NO/helium, 2800 hr??1, and 600–900°C, the catalytic activity of NO decomposition followed the order of NdSrCuO3:702 > NdSrCu0:8Co0:2O3:736 > NdSrCu0:6Co0:4O3:789 > Sm1:8Ce0:2Cu0:6Co0:4O4:187 > Sm1:8Ce0:2Cu0:8Co0:2O4:104 > Sm1:8Ce0:2CuO4:045, in concord with the sequence of decreasing oxygen vacancy or oxygen excess density. Based on the results, we concluded that the higher oxygen vacancy density and the stronger Cu3+/Cu2+ redox ability of NdSrCu1??xCoxO4?? account for the easier activation of NO and consequently improve the catalytic activity of NO decomposition over the catalysts.