Advances in Nano-Structured Electrochemical Reactors for NOx Treatment in the Presence of Oxygen

Dramatic improvements in the selective separation and purification of NO_x in exhaust gases by an electrochemical reactor have been achieved. The novel electrochemical cells for NO_x decomposition were developed by nano-scale control of penetrating pores from the catalytic electrode surface to the bottom of the catalytic electrode layer, and by distribution at the interfaces of ionic and electronically conducting grains through the electro-catalytic electrode of the cells. Dramatic improvement in the current efficiency and suppression of the working voltage of the cells enabled their application as a novel reactor for NO_x decomposition of gases from gasoline- and diesel-engine vehicles, gas engines, and other industrial equipment with the advantage of less energy consumption in comparison to "the fuel penalty" for presently used catalytic systems. The cells are able to work as a deNO_x reactor even under excess oxygen contents up to 10% because of the selective separation to NO_x molecules by the nano-space reaction. For the first time such nano-reaction has been shown to realize sufficiently applicable yielding rates. Enlarged cells revealed high performance similar to the small experimental cells.