Patent ID: 8871673

Claim:
A catalyst for the decomposition of N 2 O into nitrogen and oxygen in the gas phase, which comprises a porous support chosen from the group consisting of: a polycrystalline inorganic material comprising magnesium oxide; a polycrystalline inorganic material comprising a ceramic mixed oxide comprising at least 50% by mass of magnesium oxide; a vitreous inorganic material comprising magnesium oxide; and a vitreous inorganic material comprising a ceramic mixed oxide comprising at least 50% by mass of magnesium oxide, said porous support having a functional layer comprising cerium oxide applied thereto and a layer of oxidic cobalt-containing material applied over said cerium oxide functional layer, wherein the layer of material comprising oxidic cobalt comprises cobalt compounds in which at least 30% of the Co atoms are present in the chemically trivalent state.