Silver-Gallium Composite Oxide for Low-Temperature NOx Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current NOx storage materials are inadequate in low-temperature regions, particularly below 200°C, and often rely on transition metals, which pose environmental concerns, necessitating a material that uses inexpensive metals without transition metals for effective NOx storage.

Innovation Solution

A composite oxide of silver and gallium, potentially with aluminum, forming a delafossite-type structure, is used for NOx storage, with a molar ratio of silver to gallium between 3:7 and 7:3, and silver to (gallium+aluminum) between 2:8 and 7:3, achieving high NOx storage capacity at low temperatures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If conventional exhaust gas purification catalysts are used, then NOx purification is effective at temperatures of 250°C or more, but NOx purification is insufficient at low temperatures below 200°C

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating temperature rangeVSAvoidNOx purification effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The catalyst is divided into two functional segments: an NOx storage section containing silver-gallium composite oxide for low-temperature NOx storage, and an NOx purification section containing conventional catalyst materials for high-temperature NOx conversion. This segmentation allows each segment to operate optimally in its designated temperature range, resolving the contradiction between low-temperature storage effectiveness and high-temperature purification performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If transition metals like manganese are used in composite oxides, then NOx storage performance improves at low temperatures, but harmful environmental effects are introduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveNOx storage capacityVSAvoidenvironmental harm from transition metals
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces persistent transition metal compounds with a silver-gallium composite oxide system that uses silver in a controlled, non-toxic form. The silver-gallium composite oxide achieves comparable NOx storage capacity without the environmental persistence and toxicity concerns associated with transition metals like manganese, effectively substituting a harmful material with a safer alternative that maintains performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If Pd-chabazite is used for NOx storage, then low-temperature NOx adsorption properties are enhanced, but material cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelow-temperature NOx adsorption capacityVSAvoidmaterial composition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite oxide material consisting of silver and gallium in specific molar ratios (3:7 to 7:3) to achieve low-temperature NOx storage. This composite oxide approach simplifies the material structure compared to Pd-chabazite while maintaining effective NOx adsorption capacity at low temperatures, reducing both material complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The silver-gallium composite oxide exhibits superior NOx storage capacity at temperatures of 200°C or less, outperforming conventional materials like Pd-chabazite, with a concentration of 1.7 mmol/g or more, effectively storing NOx without the use of transition metals.

Implementation Method 1

desorption of surface oxygen accompanied by reduction of Ce cation participates in oxidation of NOx, and NOx is held as a nitrate (nitrite) salt having Ce as the cation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

desorption of surface oxygen accompanied by reduction of Ce cation participates in oxidation of NOx

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 3

a material obtained by ion exchanging Pd on to a zeolite compound such as chabazite exhibits high NOx adsorption properties

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Data Source

PatentEP3560576B1Use of a nitrogen oxide storage material and exhaust gas purification method
Publication Date: 2021.01.13 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3560576B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3560576B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3560576B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An object of the present disclosure is to provide an NOX storage material having sufficient NOX storage capacity even in a low temperature region and a production method thereof. An NOX storage material including a composite oxide of silver and gallium. The composite oxide of silver and gallium is preferably a delafossite-type composite oxide. The composite oxide is produced by dissolving a silver salt and a gallium salt in a solvent and baking the solution, wherein the molar ratio of silver:gallium is preferably from 2:8 to 7:3.