In this paper, liquid-ion-exchanged Fe-BEA catalysts
have been synthesized, characterized, and tested in
direct N2O decomposition. Several preparation steps
have been varied, including the iron precursor and
loading and the activation conditions (atmosphere and
heating rate). NO adsorption combined with infrared
spectroscopy has been applied in order to determine the
form, location, and dynamic behavior of the iron species
in the differently prepared zeolites. A remarkable
correlation has been derived between the catalytic
activity in N2O decomposition and the intensity of an
NO absorption band at around 1874 cm)1. The assignments
of the different infrared bands are discussed.