Preparation and characterization of diesel particle filter (DPF) with hierarchical microstructure for catalytic combustion of soot

Mullite whiskers were prepared on the wall of cordierite honeycomb ceramics using the gas-phase growth method. Subsequently, Co/Ce0.75Zr0.25O2 catalyst was loaded on the mullite whiskers to form hierarchical microstructure by the sol-gel technology for catalytic combustion of soot. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and Transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the structural morphology and phase compositions. The filtration capability can be improved by mullite whiskers growth on the wall of cordierite honeycomb ceramics, and the microstructural feature is similar to the pseudostratified ciliated epithelium on the tracheal cavity surface (one section of human respiratory system). The Co/Ce0.75Zr0.25O2 catalyst decreased the ignition temperature of soot particles oxidation, and the cycle stability experiment confirmed that Co/[email protected]/C sample has good structural stability and stable catalytic performance. The high-efficiency filtration and the low-temperature catalytic oxidation of soot particles are combined with the hierarchical microstructure of Co/[email protected]/C, which has potential application in the diesel particulate filter (DPF) field.