Vehicles – New catalyst looms big

July 16, 2015 – Gains in engine efficiency are often accompanied by emissions challenges, but a catalyst developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers could provide a solution. The mixed oxide catalyst features low-cost materials and potentially overcomes the problem of inhibition, in which nitrogen oxides, copper oxide and hydrocarbons effectively clog the catalyst designed to cleanse a vehicle’s exhaust stream. This happens as these three pollutants compete for active surface sites on the catalyst. But now a catalyst composed of copper oxide, cobalt oxide and cerium oxides that was studied in simulated exhaust streams shows considerable promise – and it does this at low temperatures without using precious metals.