Structural Characterization and CO Oxidation Activity of Nanostructured LaMnO3 Catalysts

Abstract

Perovskite-type LaMnO₃ catalysts were prepared by three different methods and tested for CO oxidation. The structural character of the catalysts was investigated by using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). All three different preparation methods resulted in nanostructured particles forming in the LaMnO₃ catalysts. The crystallite size was in the range of 20 to 80 nm depending on the synthesis conditions. It was possible to synthesize the smallest particle size and a pure phase of perovskite-type LaMnO₃ oxide by using a sol–gel method. The results also indicated that the CO total oxidation activity was related to the size of LaMnO₃ particle and the structure formed.