Supercatalysts to break down oxides

[Moreno]

If there exist catalysts in nature which are capable to break down very strong Nitrogene bond (nitrogenasa, for example), why there is no (?) catalysts which are capable to break down metal oxides? For example, Aluminum oxide, Calcium oxide or similar? Could they exist in theory at least?

Edited June 10, 2016 by Moreno

[John Cuthber]

Water will break down calcium oxide- violently, and (given time) it will break down aluminium oxide too.

[Moreno]

Water will break down calcium oxide- violently, and (given time) it will break down aluminium oxide too.

 

In order to do a rechargeable metal-air battery or aluminum production at room temperature viable, we would probably need to dissolve a metal oxide to ions, not just make it react violently. From what I know no metal oxides capable dissolve to ions. How then they experiment with rechargeable lithium-air, zinc-air, sodium-air batteries? What the chemistry is there?

[John Cuthber]

No metal oxide will dissolve in water to form ions because oxide ions are not stable in water. They react instantly to form hydroxide ions.

 

For example,

CaO + H₂O -> Ca⁺⁺ + 2 OH^-

As far as I know, the only oxide ions in solutions are dissolved in molten salts.

[Moreno]

How then Lithium-air rechargeable battery could work if Lithium-oxide can't be dissolved to ions?

Does it use a molten salts?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium%E2%80%93air_battery ​