The catalytic and some physico-chemical properties were studied of nickel oxide-manganese sesquioxide two-component catalysts with various proportions of the constituents. Decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution with the initial concentration 1.2 mol l-1 served as testing reaction. The catalyst components affect each other; the effect, being highest in the region of 20-30 mol.% manganese sesquioxide, brings about an enhanced dispersity of the system, with the result of increased surface area, increased amount of overstoichiometric oxygen and deficit in chemical analysis. Furthermore, the mutual component influencing appears in the specific catalytic activity of the system and in the amount of overstoichiometric oxygen per unit surface area, which is highest at 85 mol.% Mn2O3. A model of the mechanism is suggested for the reaction under study, based on the concept of bivalent catalytic centres, assuming that during the reaction, the high valency manganese species are gradually reduced as far as divalent manganese; this accounts for the occurrence of the observed two or three stages of hydrogen peroxide decomposition. Neither the mechanism of interaction of the two oxides nor the mechanism of the hydrogen peroxide decomposition changes on prior gamma irradiation of the catalyst. However, the irradiation affects markedly the catalytic activity of the system, the effect for catalyst of different composition being qualitatively different. Within the suggested concept of the reaction mechanism, the observed changes can be interpreted in terms of formation of non-eqilibrium charge carriers (electrons) resulting from the ionization both in the surface layer and in the catalyst bulk; after stabilization on the surface, the carriers may serve as adsorption centres for chemisorption of oxygen or may recombine with the catalytic centres of the reaction under study.
