Significance of Heterogeneous Catalysis of Certain Oxidation Reactions by Oxides in Relation to their Heats of Formation

Abstract

The significance of previous correlations observed by Morooka et al. between heats of formation per oxygen atom, ΔH0, for oxides and their catalytic activity towards oxidation of some hydrocarbons has been discussed. It has been pointed out that ΔH0 values do not represent metal–oxygen bond energies, as assumed by Morooka and co-workers, but instead signify band gap values for the oxides. The catalytic activity of these oxides must therefore be interpreted in terms of their electronic conductivity and not in relation to the strength of metal–oxygen bond involved.