Abstract: A two-step chemical treatment method for chemically conditioning a sensor element comprising an electrolyte in ionic communication with a first electrode and a second electrode is described. The method comprises treating at least a portion of a sensor element with a first solution comprising an inorganic base, a carbonate salt and an acid salt; heating the sensor element; treating at least a portion of the sensor element with a second solution comprising an inorganic base and a carbonate salt; and drying the sensor element. The gas sensors comprising the two-step treated sensor elements have reduced lean shift, green effect, sensor output amplitude drop, and the light-off time is improved.

Abstract: An exhaust treatment device for treating an exhaust gas stream combines the functionalities of a catalytic particulate filter and a NOx absorber catalyst into a single integral device and is disposed in an exhaust conduit. By combining the functionalities of the catalytic particulate filter and a NOx absorber catalyst into a single integral device, the exhaust treatment device eliminates the temperature losses inherent to the heat capacity of one catalytic device placed in front of the other.