Catalytic converters have been used in the U.S. since the 1970s as a way to clean up pollutants from vehicle exhaust. In the catalytic process, rare metals, such as platinum, are used in a chemical reaction to convert carbon monoxide and other pollutants to non-toxic carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and water.

As cars have become more fuel-efficient, however, they use less energy and the temperature of the exhaust gases is lower, which makes it harder to clean up the pollutants. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy has set a goal of removing 90 percent of harmful emissions at 150 degrees Celsius or lower. The catalysts have to perform at low temperatures but also must survive under the harsh conditions encountered during operation.

Single atoms of platinum

“The catalyst problem has increased paradoxically as cars have become better and more efficient,” says Emiel Hensen (see photo), catalysis professor at TU/e. Meanwhile, the industry also struggles with the high cost of the precious metals required for catalysis. Platinum, for instance, facilitates chemical reactions for many commonly used products and processes but costs more than $800 per ounce.

The catalyst the researchers developed is based on the activation of single atoms of platinum supported on cerium oxide. While their catalyst outperforms current technology, it also reduces the amount of platinum required, which would lower overall costs. “The industry wants to make use of every single atom of the precious metals, which is why single-atom catalysis has attracted increased attention,” says Abhaya Datye, distinguished professor at the University of New Mexico.

Surprise

In their latest work, the researchers first ensured their catalysts were thermally stable, trapping platinum ionson a cerium oxide support at very high temperatures. Their synthesis method caused the platinum atoms to strongly bond to their support. They then activated the catalyst in carbon monoxide at about 275 degrees Celsius.

“To our surprise, we discovered that the high temperature synthesis made the ceria more easily reducible, allowing it to provide a key ingredient - oxygen - to active sites,” says Yong Wang, Voiland Distinguished Professor at Washington State University. The activated oxygen was then able to remove pollutants at near room temperature at the platinum sites.

“This research directly addresses the 150-degree challenge identified by the U.S. Department of Energy and by automobile companies,” says Wang. “The discovery of oxygen activation at near room temperature is extremely useful, and this finding could have a significant impact on the technology of exhaust emission control.”

Interest

Catalysis professor Hensen, who led the research at TU/e, is cautiously optimistic about the speed with which this invention will find its way to cars in the showroom. “We work together with catalyst producers and they usually pick up ideas quickly. Given the urgency, they closely follow our investigation. A few parties have already expressed an interest in working with us on this. ”

A new role was played by a new measuring instrument at TU/e: a state-of-the-art photo-electron spectrometer. Unique to the device is that it can measure X-ray and UV photoelectron spectra without the need for an extreme vacuum; it is also possible to measure at higher pressures. This is expected to make the results easier to translate into practice, because the lab conditions are not extremely different from the practical conditions.