Effect of Thermal Neutron Irradiation on Oxide Catalysts for the Decomposition of Nitrous Oxide

Abstract

EFFECTS of radiation on catalysis have been investigated in various ways¹, including those of thermal neutron irradiation². As thermal neutrons are of low energy, usually only a high flux density or a long exposure induces any change in catalytic activities. In this communication, however, we can report distinct effects on the catalytic activities of nickel oxide, aluminium oxide and stannic oxide used for the decomposition of nitrous oxide. The conditions were as follows: flux density, 10¹¹n/cm.²sec.; exposure time, 3 hr. With the aid of the (n, α) reaction of lithium-6 or boron-10 atoms, we may expect an intimate relationship between the catalytic activity and the lattice defects in the semi-conductor catalysts.