Mazda Develops a World-First Catalyst Material Structure for Autos Using Single Nanotechnology

HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation has developed a world’s first catalyst for cars that uses single-nanotechnology to create a catalyst material structure which substantially reduces the amount of precious metals that are used, such as platinum and palladium.

The new development enables Mazda to reduce the amount of platinum and palladium used in automotive catalysts by 70 to 90 percent. It does not result in any changes in the performance of purifying gas emissions and maintains the high durability of conventional catalysts. Single-nanotechnology is a technology that can control even smaller particles than nanotechnology.

In automotive catalysts, precious metals promote chemical reactions that purify exhaust gases on their surfaces. In conventional catalysts, the precious metals are adhered to a base material. Exposure to exhaust gas heat causes the precious metal to agglomerate into larger particles. This reduces the catalyst’s effective surface area and catalytic activity, which requires the use of a significant amount of precious metals to counter and maintain an efficient purification performance.

In order to increase the precious metal surface area, Mazda developed a new catalyst using its proprietary catalyst material structure and precious metal particles that are less than 5 nanometers (nm) in diameter. This is the first time that a catalyst material has been achieved that features single, nanosized precious metal particles embedded in fixed positions.

As a result, there is no agglomeration of the precious metal particles, and the amount of high-priced precious metals used in three-way catalytic converters -- which purify gasoline-engine exhaust gases -- can be reduced by 70 to 90 percent. Moreover, the new catalyst material will maintain the same level of purifying efficiency, with minimal deterioration over time even under the harshest operating conditions.

 

this is good....but how so again? in laymans terms.

 

they can make catalytic converters using less platinum and palladium which are expensive. So using less of an expensive material = cheaper. My question is... does the technology cost more than the materials that would have been used? Either way, that's pretty neat.

 

They just roll it into the msrp lol

 

As someone already said.. will this process make the CAT's cheaper in the long run? I'm assuming so 'cause I dont see Mazda producing a product that in the long run will cost them more to produce I highly doubt they'd make something just to get a press release.

 

Can we get one of it for our cars for 500 bucks ?

Cuz I think stock cat cost like 1 K

if not then .... who cares .

 

Given the number of times the word "precious" is used in this article I think it's only reasonable for us to conclude that it was written by Gollum from Lord of the Rings.

 

read that as - will withstand prolonged use by rotaries

 

The point is NOT "can we put it on our cars, yo?"

The point is the cost of future production should go down and they can amortize the cost of the engineering that went into the part over hundreds of thousands of vehicles over a long extended period of time.

 

Yeah...'its precious'......bite your lip ASH.

 

Not only that, but they dont need to wast the same amount of precious materials.

 

Why not? Look at it this way. The guy who made the CAT for Honda is now the CEO of the CO. Thats why rice boys take them out to free up more power or run high flow a cat.
Let me know if you want to know the issue of Car&Drive it was in. I can scan it for ya.

 

Interesting article. And if this technology came into general use, it would definitely have quite an effect on the prices of these metals- most of which come from South Africa and the former Soviet Union.

 

Hel you can reduce the metal required by 50 % just bt not using them in the second half of the CAT.

See the exhaust CAT mod for further information.

 

Your not thinking green Razz