Preparation of LaFe0.95Pd0.05O3 perovskites and their catalytic performances in methane combustion

The physic-chemical properties of LaFe0.95Pd0.05O3 perovskites were strongly dependent on the temperature of calcination. Most of the organic substances and inorganic impurities were readily removed at 723 K but single-phase and well crystallized perovskite structure was formed at 873 K. With further raising the calcination temperature, the crystallite size of LaFe0.95Pd0.05O3 increased considerably. The LaFe0.95Pd0.05O3 sample that calcined at 1073 K showed only comparable activity as the reference LaFeO3 catalyst, in particular below 923 K, but pre-treatment with the reaction gas at 1223 K resulted in significantly enhanced activity due to the generation of active PdO species on the surface. The hysteresis feature upon heating-cooling cycle further confirmed the strong interaction between Pd and LaFeO3 in the perovskite structure.