SURFACE AND STRUCTURE CHARACTERIZATION OF SOME PEROVSKITE-TYPE POWDERS TO BE USED AS COMBUSTION CATALYSTS

Some perovskite-type transition-metal mixed oxide powders active in the combustion catalysis, with formulas LaMO(3) (M = Fe, Cr, Co, and Mn), have been prepared by different methods. Similarly, potential supports for combustion catalysts nearly isostructural with the above ones have been prepared, with compositions SrZrO3 and LaAlO3. Mixed phases with formulas Sr1-xLaxZr1-xMnxO3 have also been investigated. The bulk properties have been studied by XRD, far-IR spectroscopy, and DTA-TG analyses. Morphological properties have been determined by XRD, SEM, and surface area measurements. These phases crystallize after heating at 970 K (except LaFeO3, which is already crystalline after calcination at 770 K) with surface area ranging 10-20 m(2)/g. The solubility of LaMnO3 into SrZrO3 is limited to near 10%. Their surface properties have been investigated by IR spectroscopy that showed a predominantly basic surface character of all these solids.