Magnetic field acceleration of the ortho-para H2 conversion on transition oxides

A new electron-nucleus resonant mechanism is shown to increase the ortho-para conversion rate of hydrogen molecules adsorbed on transition metal oxides. This mechanism is suggested to interpret the observed conversion rate accelerations by an external magnetic field and similar effects in a variety of chemical reactions. Since the resonances occur for stringent relations between catalyst and molecular parameters, the magnetic field acceleration is very sensitive to catalyst pretreatments and constitutes a valuable tool to improve the catalytic rates.