Effective modification of MgO with surface transition metal oxides for NF3 decomposition

NF₃ decomposition over transition metal oxides coated MgO reagents in the absence of water is investigated. The results show that NF₃ can be decomposed completely over pure MgO but the time of NF₃ steady full conversion kept as short as 80 min, while the reactivities of coated MgO reagents were remarkably enhanced by transition metal oxides, for example the time of NF₃ complete conversion over 12%Fe/MgO extended to 380 min. It is suggested that not only an increase in surface area but also a significant enhancement in the fluorination of MgO substrate caused by the surface transition metal oxides result in an improved reactivity of coated MgO reagents for NI₃ decomposition.