Unveiling the roles of distinct active sites over Pd/SSZ-13 for low-temperature NOx adsorption

Pd-based zeolites are attractive candidates for passive NOx adsorbers to reduce NOx emission from vehicle exhausts at low temperature. However, it is not well understood the NO adsorption/desorption mechanism in the presence of H2O and CO, which are constant components in diesel exhaust. In this study, an initial Pd/SSZ-13 sample was treated by reduction in H2 and then oxidation in NO to obtain a hydrophilic Pd/SSZ-13 with mostly Z[Pd2+(OH)] sites, or by thermal aging at 750 °C to prepare a hydrophobic Pd/SSZ-13 dominated by Z2Pd2+ and Z[Pd2+(OH)] sites. The two distinct Pd/SSZ-13 catalysts were characterized by XRD, H2-TPR, 27Al MAS NMR, and in situ DRIFTS spectra of CO adsorption, etc. Furthermore, the NOx adsorption/desorption reaction experiments and in situ DRIFTS studies were carried out on the two Pd/SSZ-13 catalysts under various conditions to explore the role of Z2Pd2+ and Z[Pd2+(OH)] sites in NO adsorption in the presence of H2O or co-existence of H2O and CO. Additionally, the recovery of active Pd sites after NO desorption was studied.