Kinetics and mechanism of thermal decomposition of silver oxide

Abstract

The scheme of dissociative evaporation of Ag2O in the form of free Ag atoms and O2 molecules with simultaneous condensation of Ag vapor is used to interpret the kinetics of thermal decomposition of Ag2O. A critical analysis of literature data and their comparison with theoretical calculations has shown that the main kinetic characteristics of Ag2O decomposition, including the activation energy, absolute decomposition rate, and its dependence on the partial pressure of O2 are in full agreement with the proposed mechanism of decomposition. Condensation of the low-volatile product (Ag vapor) in the reaction zone and partial transport of condensation energy to the reactant account for the features which are typical of solid-state reactions and manifest themselves in the appearance of periods of induction and acceleration in the course of the process.