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Active and Stable PtPd Diesel Oxidation Catalysts under Industry-Defined Test Protocols
Kang Rui Garrick Lim1,2, Tanya Shirman1,3, Todd J Toops4
1John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, 02138, Massachusetts, United States.
Chemsuschem
|February 28, 2025
Summary
Aging a mixture of platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd) catalysts creates an alloyed catalyst that enhances diesel oxidation and emission control. This novel approach improves hydrocarbon conversion and catalyst stability.
Area of Science:
- Catalysis
- Materials Science
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Diesel fuel combustion produces CO and hydrocarbons, necessitating catalytic converters.
- Platinum (Pt) and Palladium (Pd) nanoparticle catalysts are used but deactivate via sintering at high temperatures.
- Vapor-mediated sintering of Pt is a major deactivation pathway.
Purpose of the Study:
- To leverage vapor-mediated sintering of Pt to create a more active and stable diesel oxidation catalyst.
- To investigate the formation and performance of an alloyed PtPd/Al2O3 catalyst.
- To develop a practical method for producing enhanced diesel oxidation catalysts.
Main Methods:
- Raspberry-colloid-templating (RCT) method to prepare Pt/Al2O3 and Pd/Al2O3 catalysts with partially embedded nanoparticles.
- Aging a physical mixture of Pt/Al2O3 and Pd/Al2O3 catalysts at high temperatures.
- Validation using an industry-defined emission control test protocol and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).
Main Results:
- Aging the physical mixture formed an alloyed PtPd/Al2O3 catalyst that outperformed individual catalysts and the fresh mixture.
- The aged alloyed catalyst demonstrated superior hydrocarbon conversion, stability, and resistance to sintering and SO2 poisoning.
- XPS analysis showed increased metallic Pd content in the aged catalyst, correlating with enhanced activity.
Conclusions:
- Vapor-mediated sintering can be advantageously utilized to form active PtPd alloy catalysts.
- The RCT method provides a practical route to highly stable and active diesel oxidation catalysts.
- This approach offers a promising solution for improving diesel emission control technologies.
Keywords:
AlloysCatalyst stabilityDiesel oxidation catalystEmission controlOstwald ripeningPalladiumPlatinumMore Related Videos
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