Thermally Induced Structure and Functionality Evolution of a Pt–based Lean NOx Trap Catalyst

Abstract Applying a NO x trap catalyst to effectively remove NO x contaminants from the oxygen–rich exhaust is still very challenging, due to the lack of use guidance based on deactivation mechanisms. The temperature–dependent Pt sintering rate constant was described using Pt dispersion determined by pulse CO chemisorption. It was found that 700–850 °C was the determining temperature regions for the significant Pt sintering, according to the sintering kinetics and the evolution of active Pt δ+ sites. The weak basicity plays a critical role in trapping NO x at low–temperature (≤300 °C), and the NO x trap efficiency decreases because of the loss of catalytic activity and medium basicity caused by forming BaAl 2 O 4 phase. The reduction of NO x towards N 2 on the Pt crystallites smaller than 18 nm is structure sensitive and decreases with losing the reducibility of catalysts. The security for long–time use of a NO x trap catalyst should be exposed to the exhaust gas within 750 °C, and effectively removing NO x contaminants requires it to be worked in the 350–500 °C regions. These findings can guide engineers and applied chemists how to efficiently use a NO x trap catalyst in the automotive exhaust purification system.