Electrical conductivity and thermogravimetric studies of the thermal decomposition of doped cobalt carbonate

Abstract

The effect of CdO on the thermal decomposition of cobaltous carbonate was studied. Measurements were carried out using thermogravity and electrical conductivity. The results show that addition of CdO retards the decomposition process via annihilation of holes created in cobaltic oxide. The non-stoichiometry and activity of the thermal decomposition products up to 500 °C were measured by means of the decomposition of N 2H 4 and H 2O 2 using a gasometric technique. The results show that the Co 2+ ions are the active centres. The increase in activity when the CdO content is increased to 5 mol.% is attributed to an enhancement in the transition from Co 3+ ions to Co 2+ ions. The decomposition mechanism for H 2O 2 is proposed.