In the race to develop more sustainable propulsion systems, hydrogen-burning internal combustion engines have captured the attention of aviation giants like Airbus and Rolls-Royce. While hydrogen combustion eliminates carbon emissions, it produces nitrogen oxides (NOx), harmful pollutants that contribute to smog and pose health risks.
To address this challenge, researchers at the University of California (UC) Riverside have discovered a low-cost solution to significantly reduce NOx emissions. Their breakthrough involves enhancing catalytic converter efficiency by infusing a platinum catalyst with a porous material known as “Y zeolites.” This innovation, detailed in Nature Communications, allows the converter to convert up to five times more NOx than conventional designs.
Hydrogen engines generate energy by burning hydrogen and oxygen, producing water vapor as the primary byproduct. However, the high temperatures involved also trigger chemical reactions in the atmosphere, resulting in the formation of NOx. Catalytic converters help mitigate these emissions by breaking them down into nitrogen gas and water vapor, though conventional converters have limitations.
The infusion of Y zeolites, which capture water vapor more effectively, promotes more efficient NOx reduction. “We just mix the two materials—platinum and zeolite—together, run the reaction, and then we see the improvement in activity and selectivity,” said Liping Liu, co-author of the study.
A patent is pending for the zeolite-infused catalytic converter, and the technology is expected to be commercialized by BASF, a German chemical company that supported the research.
(Top image: Credit — Rolls Royce)
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