Mazda
Motor Corporation has developed a world’s first
catalyst for cars that uses single-nanotechnology to create a catalyst
material structure which substantially reduces the amount of precious
metals that are used, such as platinum and palladium.
 | | How the Mazda nanotechnology catalyst works |
The new development enables Mazda to reduce the amount of
platinum and palladium used in automotive catalysts by 70 to 90
percent. It does not result in any changes in the performance of
purifying gas emissions and maintains the high durability of
conventional catalysts. Single-nanotechnology is a technology that can
control even smaller particles than nanotechnology.
In automotive catalysts, precious metals promote chemical reactions
that purify exhaust gases on their surfaces. In conventional catalysts,
the precious metals are adhered to a base material. Exposure to exhaust
gas heat causes the precious metal to agglomerate into larger
particles. This reduces the catalyst’s effective surface area
and catalytic activity, which requires the use of a significant amount
of precious metals to counter and maintain an efficient purification
performance.
In order to increase the precious metal surface area, Mazda
developed a new catalyst using its proprietary catalyst material
structure and precious metal particles that are less than 5 nanometers
(nm) in diameter. This is the first time that a catalyst material has
been achieved that features single, nanosized precious metal particles
embedded in fixed positions.
As a result, there is no agglomeration of the precious metal
particles, and the amount of high-priced precious metals used in
three-way catalytic converters - which purify gasoline-engine exhaust
gases - can be reduced by 70 to 90 percent. Moreover, the new catalyst
material will maintain the same level of purifying efficiency, with
minimal deterioration over time even under the harshest operating
conditions.
Posted 4th January 2008
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