Kinetic study of the thermal decomposition of cobalt(III) oxyhydroxide

The kinetics of thermal decomposition of CoOOH have been studied by analysis of isothermal weight loss data under vacuum. The comparison of linear correlation coefficients of different kinetic expressions applied to these data does not allow an understanding of the mechanism, even when significance tests are performed (t test). A single value of the activation energy (193 kJ mol^?1) is obtained from the Arrhenius plots, and is relatively independent of the choice of rate law. On the other hand, a change in the mechanism of formation of Co₃O₄ with temperature cannot be inferred from analysis of isothermal data. Thus, the statement of some authors that from formal kinetics it is possible to distinguish the proton and electron transfers involved in the transformation appears unacceptable.