The Effect of Calcium Doping on the Surface and Catalytic Properties of Cobaltic Oxide Catalysts

The effects of calcium oxide doping (0.75, 1.5 and 3 mol% CaO) and calcination temperature (400, 500, 600 and 700°C) on different surface properties of Co3O4 were investigated. The structural properties of pure and doped oxide samples were determined by XRD methods, the textural properties were investigated via the adsorption of nitrogen at −196°C while the hydrogen peroxide decomposition activity of the investigated solids was determined by oxygen gasometric measurement of the reaction kinetics at 20–40°C. The dissolution of calcium ions in the Co3O4 lattice at temperatures in the range 400–600°C was accompanied by a marked decrease in the mean hydraulic radii (rh) and an increase in the surface area (SBET) and total pore volume (Vp) of the prepared oxide samples. In contrast, doping at 700°C brought about a decrease in the SBET and Vp values of the investigated solids. The catalytic activity for H2O2 decomposition on cobaltic oxide calcined at 400–700°C was found to decrease considerably on doping with CaO. The activation energy for sintering (ΔEs) of the pure and doped solids was determined from the variation in their SBET values as a function of the calcination temperature of these solids. Calcium oxide treatment resulted in a 50% increase in the activation energy of sintering of cobaltic oxide solid calcined at 400–600°C. This increase reflects the role of CaO doping in hindering the sintering of cobaltic oxide.