COMPARISON OF OXIDATION OF CARBON-MONOXIDE ON SUPERCONDUCTING AND INSULATING Y-BA-CU-O CATALYSTS

Investigation of the catalytic activity of Y2BaCuO5 has shown high and stable activity for CO oxidation when the catalyst is slightly reduced, comparable with the activity of the best catalysts for CO oxidation. This oxide was found to be about two orders of magnitude more active than the superconducting perovskite YBa2Cu3O7-x. Furthermore, in contrast to the perovskite catalyst, surface reduction increased the activity of Y2BaCuO5. Zero-order kinetics were observed for O2 on both the oxidized and reduced forms of the catalyst, but the reaction order for CO was in the range of 1.1 to 1.5. Differences between the oxidized and reduced forms of the catalyst and between the two types of YBaCuO catalysts are discussed. © 1990.