Surface potential study of adsorbed oxygen species on aerogel Cr2O3–Al2O3catalyst in toluene oxidation

Abstract

The surface potential, measured by the Kelvin method, allows one to determine the dominant oxygen species adsorbed on the surface of a Cr₂O₃–Al₂O₃ aerogel during catalysis of toluene oxidation. Between 523 and 623 K, reaction takes place by a redox mechanism, the rate-determining step being the dissociation of oxygen during the reoxidation of the reduced centre. These results are in full agreement with already published kinetic and spectroscopic studies.