PREPARATION OF La1-XNdXCoO3 SYSTEM FOR MATERIALS AND CATALYTIC CO OXIDATION STUDIES

Abstract

Crystalline Lanthanum and Neodymium Cobaltates with a perovskite structure ABO3
and their intermediate
compositions La1-XNdXCoO3
(x = 0.0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 1.0) were successfully prepared via co-precipitation
precursor technique as low as at 800oC temperatures. The crystal structure and their phase formation were confirmed by
X- ray powdered diffraction. The terminal compounds LaCoO3
and NdCoO3 were identified to be single phase and are
indexed to Rhombohedral and Orthorhombic structures respectively. The intermediate x=0.3, and 0.5 show
Rhombohedral whereas x = 0.7 is indexed to Orthorhombic structure. The bonding characteristics were studied by
FTIR spectroscopy. TGA/DSC technique reveals the optimum calcination temperature for the formation of perovskite
phase. Magnetic susceptibility measurements and ESR study provide an insight into the paramagnetic catalytically active
species. An attempt has been made to understand the effect of A-site substitution in the lattice of LaCoO3
with
Nd+3 ions and their correlation with the solid-state properties. Being thermally stable materials, they were tested for
a model catalytic CO oxidation for pollution control strategy. They showed an increase in the activity of carbon
monoxide oxidation to carbon dioxide.