New nanostructured catalyzers without noble metals and with low content in lanthanides

Description of the technology

The research group working on the “Structure and chemistry of nanomaterials” has developed a new catalyzer that does not contain noble metals in its formulation, has a low content in lanthanides and presents good oxygen storage properties. These catalyzers will be of great interest for the purification of the exhaust gases of combustion engines, and in the catalysis of any reaction in which the activation of hydrogen molecules is required.

Specifications

These novel materials consist of systems in layers that have been prepared by depositing cerium oxide either onto oxide of zirconium alone or else doped with yttrium. A series of chemical-thermal treatments are subsequently applied to these systems, which gives them a high oxygen storage capacity at low temperature. Since they are able to operate efficiently at temperatures ranging from 150 to 500 ºC, their principal potential application is as three-way catalyzers: current commercial catalyzers only operate at temperatures of around 500 ºC. This represents a new additional advantage since, by working at lower temperatures, the serious problem of the sinterization of the catalyzer is avoided, and therefore the stability of the material increases. Equally promising, these catalyzers are applicable in any other reaction in which activation of the molecules of hydrogen is required. This activation is catalyzed at relatively low temperatures and therefore with a lower energy cost.

Main advantages of its use

• High stability.
• The manufacturing costs of these catalyzers are much lower than for the conventional kind.
• These catalyzers do not employ noble metals in their composition.
• They can operate efficiently at temperatures between 150 and 500 ºC, thus preventing the sinterization of the catalyzer.
• They have a low content in lanthanides
• They present a high oxygen storage capacity at low temperatures.
• Use in reactions that involve activation of the molecule of hydrogen; they facilitate this activation at temperatures lower than those of conventional processes, and therefore with lower energy cost.
• Use in systems of three-way catalysis.

Applications

• Use in car catalyzers.
• Use in reactions that involve activation of the molecule of hydrogen; they facilitate this activation at temperatures lower than those of conventional processes, and therefore with lower energy cost.