Effect of alkali promoters (K) on nitrous oxide abatement over Ir/Al2O3 catalystsEffect of alkali promoters (K) on nitrous oxide abatement over Ir/Al2O3 catalysts Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication Δημοσίευση σε Περιοδικό με Κριτές 2018-10-102016enThe promoting impact of potassium (0–1 wt% K) on nitrous oxide (N2O) catalytic decomposition over Ir/Al2O3 is investigated under both oxygen deficient and oxygen excess conditions. All samples were characterized by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR), ammonia desorption (NH3-TPD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy of pyridine adsorption (FTIR-Pyridine). The results reveal that the K-free Ir/Al2O3 catalyst consists mainly of the IrO2 phase, exhibiting also significant Lewis acidity, which is gradually eliminated by the addition of K. Catalytic performance results showed that the deN2O performance in the absence of O2 in the feed mixture is negatively affected upon increasing potassium loading. However, under oxygen excess conditions, a pronounced effect of K is observed. Although the catalytic performance of the un-doped catalyst is drastically hindered by the presence of O2, the K-promotion notably prohibits the oxygen poisoning. The optimum deN2O performance under oxygen excess conditions is obtained with potassium loading of 0.5 wt% K, which offers complete conversion of N2O at 580 °C, instead of the corresponding 50 % N2O conversion achieved with the un-modified sample. On the basis of characterization results, it was concluded that alkali-doping in combination with oxygen excess conditions are required towards the formation of active Ir entities.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Topics in Catalysis5910-121020-1027 Papista Eleni Pachatouridou Eleni Παχατουριδου Ελενη Goula Maria A. Marnellos, Georges E Iliopoulou Eleni F. Konsolakis Michail Κονσολακης Μιχαηλ Gentekakis Ioannis Γεντεκακης Ιωαννης Springer Nature [academic journals on nature.com] Alumina Iridium N2O decomposition Potassium promoter