Plasma Synthesis: A Novel Way of Making Catalysts

Abstract

In the present paper a novel method of manufacturing mobile emission control catalysts (MECC) is presented. The manufacturing of these novel catalysts consists of three steps: In a first processing step micron sized powders consisting of an oxide powder, typically Al₂O₃ or SiO₂ or the like, and micron sized precious metal powders, Pt, Pd, Rh or the like, are co-fed into a DC plasma gun. Inside the gun the powders are vaporized at temperatures of approximately 25,000 K. After the powders are vaporized the vapor is rapidly quenched at rates of approximately 1,000,000 K/s. This process step yields so-called Nano on Nano Catalysts™, where nano clusters of precious metals atoms are condensed onto the nano sized oxide particles. In a second processing step these Nano on Nano Catalysts™ are dispersed in water. This step is followed by a third, and final processing step, where the Nano on Nano Catalysts™ are integrated onto the final support, i.e. the monoliths (or honeycombs), which ultimately are canned and located downstream of a vehicle’s engine. Catalysts manufactured under the above conditions are then tested against reference catalysts, both under fresh and aged conditions. Test results show that the plasma based catalysts have better light off temperatures after aging than the reference catalysts if they contain the same amount of precious metals as the reference catalyst. If the precious metal amount for the plasma based catalysts is reduced to approx. half the amount of the reference catalysts then both catalysts show approx. the same light off temperatures after aging. Above results show that with catalysts based on plasma technology one can either lower the light off temperatures while maintaining the precious metal content compared to reference catalysts, or match the performance of the reference catalysts while reducing the precious metal content to approx. 50%, compared to the reference catalysts.