TY - JOUR
T1 - The role of rare earth elements in three-way catalysts
T2 - Implications for automobile emission control
AU - Navarro-Espinoza, Sofía
AU - Meza-Figueroa, Diana
AU - Meléndrez-Amavizca, Rodrigo
AU - Barboza-Flores, Marcelino
AU - Soto-Puebla, Diego
AU - Ruiz-Torres, Rodolfo
AU - Silva-Campa, Erika
AU - Paz-Moreno, Francisco
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l.
PY - 2025
Y1 - 2025
N2 - This work characterizes Rare Earth Elements (REEs) behavior in three-way catalytic converters (TWCCs) at different degrees of on-road ageing. TWCCs are essential devices for preventing toxic gaseous emissions into the environment. TWCC has a washcoat with nanoparticles (NPs) of REEs doped CeO2-ZrO2, serving as a platinoid substrate. The essential function of the washcoat is to store oxygen for redox conversion reactions at high temperatures. To contribute to understanding washcoat ageing and further release of NPs, we characterize TWCCs by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, Raman microspectroscopy, photoluminescence, and thermoluminescence techniques. The results suggest a decrease of La, Nd, Pr, and the redistribution of Ce-Zr cations in the crystal structure. We used transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering to observe the growth of the NPs in the washcoat. The particle diameter increase from 102 to 202 nm may be associated with the decrease of these critical elements, which affects the efficiency/durability of these devices.
AB - This work characterizes Rare Earth Elements (REEs) behavior in three-way catalytic converters (TWCCs) at different degrees of on-road ageing. TWCCs are essential devices for preventing toxic gaseous emissions into the environment. TWCC has a washcoat with nanoparticles (NPs) of REEs doped CeO2-ZrO2, serving as a platinoid substrate. The essential function of the washcoat is to store oxygen for redox conversion reactions at high temperatures. To contribute to understanding washcoat ageing and further release of NPs, we characterize TWCCs by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, Raman microspectroscopy, photoluminescence, and thermoluminescence techniques. The results suggest a decrease of La, Nd, Pr, and the redistribution of Ce-Zr cations in the crystal structure. We used transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering to observe the growth of the NPs in the washcoat. The particle diameter increase from 102 to 202 nm may be associated with the decrease of these critical elements, which affects the efficiency/durability of these devices.
KW - Catalyst converter
KW - Ce-Zr nanoparticles
KW - Rare earth elements
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85214557566&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ceramint.2025.01.068
DO - 10.1016/j.ceramint.2025.01.068
M3 - Artículo
AN - SCOPUS:85214557566
SN - 0272-8842
JO - Ceramics International
JF - Ceramics International
ER -