Home > Press > Ceria Nanoparticles Catalyze Reactions for Cleaner-Fuel Future
Abstract:
Discovery may lead to catalytic converters that are better at cleaning up auto exhaust, and/or to more-efficient ways of generating hydrogen.
Experiments on ceria (cerium oxide) nanoparticles
carried out at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National
Laboratory may lead to catalytic converters that are better at
cleaning up auto exhaust, and/or to more-efficient ways of generating
hydrogen -- a promising zero-emission fuel for the future. Brookhaven
chemist Jose Rodriguez will present results from two studies
exploring the composition, structure, and reactivity of these
versatile nanoparticles during the 229th National Meeting of the
American Chemical Society on Tuesday, March 15, at 8:15 a.m. in room
Del Mar A of the Hyatt Regency, San Diego, California.
After using a novel technique to synthesize the ceria nanoparticles,
Rodriguez and coworkers Xianqin Wang and Jonathan Hanson used bright
beams of x-rays at the National Synchrotron Light Source to study how
their composition, structure, and reactivity changed in response to
doping with zirconium in one case, and impregnation with gold in
another.
"In a catalytic converter, ceria acts as a buffer, absorbing or
releasing oxygen, depending on the conditions of the engine, to
maintain the catalyst in its optimum operating condition for
converting harmful emissions such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen
oxide to carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas," Rodriguez said. Others
have found that adding zirconium improves ceria's ability to store
and release oxygen.
The synchrotron studies at Brookhaven explain why: Zirconium changes
the ceria's structure to increase the number of oxygen "vacancies" --
or places for oxygen uptake and release. Furthermore, Rodriguez says,
"The ceria nanoparticles we studied have much better performance,
higher chemical reactivity, than the bulk form of ceria currently
used in catalytic converters." Thus, this research holds promise for
more-efficient catalytic converters -- and cleaner air.
In the second study, Wang, Hanson, and Rodriguez deposited gold on
the surface of ceria nanoparticles and used x-rays at the synchrotron
to determine the catalyst's "active phase" -- the conformation
responsible for the catalytic activity -- in the conversion of water
and carbon monoxide to hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide. This
"water-gas shift" reaction is important for generating hydrogen,
which can be used for chemical transformations and as a fuel in a
hydrogen-based economy. Hydrogen is one of the leading energy sources
being investigated by scientists sponsored by the Department of
Energy as part of its mission to ensure the nation's future energy
needs.
"In both cases, we are learning about the fundamental conditions
necessary for optimal operation of the catalysts," Rodriguez said.
"This kind of knowledge eventually will lead to a rational design of
even more effective catalysts."
This research was funded by the Office of Basic Energy Sciences
within the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.
One of the ten national laboratories overseen and funded primarily by
the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE),
Brookhaven National Laboratory conducts research in the physical,
biomedical, and environmental sciences, as well as in energy
technologies and national security. Brookhaven Lab also builds and
operates major scientific facilities available to university,
industry and government researchers. Brookhaven is operated and
managed for DOE's Office of Science by Brookhaven Science Associates,
a limited-liability company founded by Stony Brook University, the
largest academic user of Laboratory facilities, and Battelle, a
nonprofit, applied science and technology organization. Visit
Brookhaven Lab's electronic newsroom for links, news archives,
graphics, and more: www.bnl.gov/newsroom
Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.
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