The Technology
Novel methods to form thermally stable gold particles. The particles are made either from nano-porous gold (np-Gold) – sponge-like single crystals with intricate morphology or thin polycrystalline gold atomic steps. The catalytic activity is akin to that of Au nanoparticles or single crystal vicinal surfaces, but the special morphologies are retained even after prolonged thermal exposure at 350°C. Formation of large areas of gold atomic steps in a rapid and cheap method.
Advantages
- High catalytic activity for oxidation of CO, NOx and Hydrocarbon at room temperature.
- Materials are stable at high temperature as well.
Applications and Opportunities
- Most effective in the oxidation of carbon monoxide at ambient temperature. It is also the most effective catalyst for the synthesis of vinyl chloride by acetylene hydrochlorination.
- Various liquid based catalysis such as Selective hydrogenations, Epoxidations, and Water gas shift.
- Current catalytic converters comprise platinum group metals (PGMs) including Pt, Pd, Rh and are very efficient in converting the toxic gases to non-toxic counterparts generally, but NOT during the cold-start, when 70% of the toxic emission happen.
- Nanoparticles of Au are very effective for CO, NOx and Hydrocarbon oxidation close to room temperature with extremely high activity. However, nanoparticulate Au-based catalysts cannot be effectively used in catalytic converters since at the temperatures reached after the cold-start period, they undergo coarsening and sintering that at some point greatly reduces and even completely eliminates its catalytic activity.
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