Periodic control for improved low-temperature catalytic activity

Journal article, 2001

The influence of transient changes in the gas composition on the low-temperature activity of a commercial three-way catalyst and a Pt/Al2O3 model catalyst has been studied. By introducing well-controlled periodic O2 pulses to simple gas mixtures of CO or C3H6 (in N2), a substantial improvement of the low temperature oxidation activity was observed for both catalysts. The reason for low activity at low temperatures is normally attributed to self-poisoning by CO or hydrocarbons. The improved catalytic performance observed here is suggested to origin from the transients causing a surface reactant composition that is favourable for the reaction rate.