Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
A sol-gel process was used to synthesize potential combustion catalysts based on mixed oxides on several libraries. As mixed oxides a variety of doped Zr-Al-oxides and Ce-oxides were prepared. The catalytic activity of the materials was tested with the combustion of i-octane, n-butane and methane in synthetic air. Several Pt- and Rh-containing sol-gel materials showed effective methane combustion already at 60 °C under rich conditions and at 200 °C under lean conditions. Several noble metal free doped CeO2 catalysts combusted methane already at 300 °C under lean conditions. Combustion of i-octane was catalysed already at 125 °C. The most active catalysts were synthesized conventionally, characterized and catalytic activity was confirmed in a regular gas phase flow reactor.