Sr doping effect on the structure property and NO oxidation performance of dual-site doped perovskite La(Sr)Co(Fe)O3

Abstract In this work, the physico-chemical properties of the La1-xSrxCo0.8Fe0.2O3 (x = 0, 0.3，0.4，0.5，0.6) catalysts were systematically studied as well as their catalytic activity for NO oxidation. When Sr2+ substituted at La3+ site, [CoO6] octahedral distortion is amended and the crystal structure transited from rhombohedral to cubic. Co(III) electronic configuration turned from high/intermediate spin state to low spin sate with empty eg filling. Imbalanced positive charge induced by Sr2+ was compensated by tetravalent Co(IV) ions and oxygen deficiencies together. All these factors resulted in better reducibility of Co, increasing oxygen deficiencies and more mobile oxygen species. Thus, NO conversion of 67–69% was attained over the Sr-doped catalysts at 300 °C, much higher than the undoped catalysts (NO conversion of 24.3%). A significant decrease of the apparent activation energy (Ea), from 68 kJ/mol down to ~52 kJ/mol, was observed as well. Based on the kinetics results, NO oxidation over the perovskite catalysts is a typical superficial process determined by adsorbed NO and surface oxygen species.