High-level quantum chemical calculations have been performed on the decomposition reactions of N2O with
cation-stabilized oxygen species (O-, O2
-, and O3
-), which compose a model catalytic cycle where O2
- is
regenerated. The calculated results show that O- and O3
- can be expected to be the most active species in the
N2O decomposition process, with activation barriers at the multiconfigurational second-order perturbation
level (CASPT2) of 29.5 and 32.5 kcal/mol, respectively. The calculated activation barrier for N2O decomposition
through reaction with O2
- is 40.8 kcal/mol. Comparison with experiments involving these species on metal-oxide substrates indicates the role of the ionic surface to reduce the barriers.