Dehydrogenation of 2-propanol on doped nickel oxide catalysts

Lithium and indium doped nickel oxide samples have been prepared with up to 3 at. % of dopant. The electrical properties of these samples have been studied. All the samples exhibit p-type conductivity which increases with lithium doping and decreases upon doping with indium. Dehydrogenation of 2-propanol on these catalysts increases with the hole concentration in the solid. Desorption of acetone appears to be the rate-determining step. A possible mechanism for the reaction is proposed