Nanostructured manganese oxides were synthesized towards the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. The effect of the type of precipitant (Na2CO3 and NH4OH) over the particle size and crystallographic phase was determined. Also, the influence of particle size and crystal phase over the catalytic activity was established. Characterization of the obtained nanoparticles was performed through XRD analysis, BET surface area and TEM microscopy. Catalytic activity was followed through gasometry of the oxygen evolution [H2O2(l) ? H2O(l) + O2 (g)] at 25°C. Na2CO3 (Mn-1) and NH4OH (Mn-2) precipitants produced nanoparticles with average sizes of 5-10 nm and 20 nm, respectively. This result was attributed to higher pH stability of precipitant Na2CO3 during the synthesis process. XRD results revealed the presence of ß-MnO2, Mn5O8 and Mn3O4 crystal phase mixture for Mn-1 and Mn5O8 for Mn-2 catalyst. Catalytic activity resulted in intrinsic rate constants (kint = min-1m-2) of 5.2 and 2.3 for Mn-1 and Mn-2, respectively. The greater catalytic activity of Mn-2 catalyst was attributed to the presence of the Mn55O8 phase.
©2011 Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin/Boston
