Abstract: A NOX abatement system includes a first NOX adsorber capable of being disposed in-line and downstream of and in fluid communication with an engine. The NOX abatement system further includes a selective catalytic reduction catalyst disposed in-line and downstream of, and in direct fluid communication with, the first NOX adsorber. The selective catalytic reduction catalyst is capable of storing ammonia. An off-line reformer is disposed in selective communication with and upstream of the first NOX adsorber and the selective catalytic reduction catalyst. The reformer is capable of producing a reformate that includes primarily hydrogen and carbon monoxide.

Abstract: An exhaust manifold includes an exhaust conduit having an inner surface, and an aluminide layer disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface of the manifold. The exhaust manifold is made by applying aluminum on an inner surface of the manifold and oxidizing to form the aluminide layer.

Abstract: In a solid-oxide fuel cell assembly comprising a plurality of components having electrically-conductive mating surfaces therebetween, the surfaces are sealed by an electrically insulating gasket that include a mineral composition comprising about 66 mol % MgO and about 33 mol % SiO2, the mineral composition being known mineralogically as forsterite. A brazing alloy may be applied to enhance bonding of the gasket into place. The gasket composition may include additions of Al2O3 to enhance electrical resistivity while having little to no impact of matching expansion coefficients of the gasket and metal mating surfaces. Also, additions such as titania or zirconia to inhibit glassy phase grain boundaries and the formation of impurities and pores in the ceramic grain boundaries may be used. A recommended particle size distribution of precursor powders is disclosed that leads to an optimum microstructure of the sintered gasket.

Abstract: An exhaust emission control system can include a reformer a fuel source disposed upstream of and in fluid communication with the reformer, and a NOx adsorber disposed downstream of and in fluid communication with the reformer. The NOx adsorber can include a NOx adsorber catalyst having an acid adsorber disposed on the substrate and a base adsorber disposed over the acid adsorber.

Abstract: A catalyst substrate comprises a substrate material having an inlet, an outlet, an opening therebetween to allow for the passage of exhaust gas therethrough, and further comprises a catalyst and a layer of zirconium phosphate. Catalyst substrates coated with zirconium phosphate exhibit improved thermal durability, improved thermal shock resistance, and improved alkali and acidic corrosion resistance.

Abstract: A method for preparing an exhaust gas catalyst includes preparing a washcoat comprising a catalytically effective amount of at least one catalytically active metal disposed upon an oxide support; disposing the catalytically active metal-oxide support washcoat upon a catalyst substrate; drying the washcoated catalyst substrate using microwave energy to affix the precious metals to the oxide support; and conventionally calcining the dried washcoated catalyst substrate. The catalysts comprising a substrate having dispersed thereon an inorganic oxide washcoat, the washcoat having been affixed to the substrate by microwave drying, exhibit high exhaust gas purifying performance and long durability. The catalysts thus produced further provide a long in-service lifetime for reforming organic fuel species into hydrogen, carbon monoxide and light hydrocarbons used in the nitrogen oxides reduction process.

Abstract: A reformer comprises a housing; a substrate disposed in the housing, wherein the substrate comprises a stabilized aluminate and a stabilized zirconate; and a catalyst disposed on the substrate.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an exhaust treatment device includes: a substrate, a shell disposed around the substrate, and a retention material disposed between the shell and the substrate. The substrate includes a catalyst that includes a precious metal and a solid solution comprising solid solution metals, wherein the solid solution metals include yttrium, zirconium, and titanium.

Abstract: One embodiment of a method of operating a NOx abatement system comprises: introducing an exhaust stream to an ammonia generator in a normal flow direction, adsorbing NOx from the exhaust stream in the ammonia generator, diverting the exhaust stream around the ammonia generator, introducing hydrogen to the ammonia generator in a direction opposite the normal flow direction, and generating ammonia within the ammonia generator.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a catalyst formulation includes a poison adsorbing material and a catalyst material. The poison adsorbing material comprises large particles having an average major diameter of greater than or equal to about 2.0 micrometers. The catalyst material comprises a precious metal support comprising small particles having an average major diameter of less than or equal to about 1.0 micrometers, and a catalyst material comprising at least one of ruthenium and iridium.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a planar sensor, comprises disposing a film of a material on a substrate, wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of platinum, rhodium, palladium and mixtures and alloys comprising at least one of the foregoing materials; annealing the material; measuring a resistance value of the material; laser trimming the annealed material; heat treating the laser trimmed material; and laser trimming the heat treated material to form the sensor.

Abstract: A catalyst for preferentially reducing carbon monoxide in a hydrogen stream. The catalyst is formed from a chemical composition including a hexaaluminate, a metal hydroxide and a precious metal. The composition may be disposed on a support or may be extruded or cast into or onto a support. Incorporation of hexaaluminates allows inclusion of metal hydroxides that flux the active precious metal surface at higher temperatures than can aluminum oxide-based catalytic compositions, thereby enhancing resistance of the catalyst and monolithic support and increasing the durability and thermal range of the PROX catalyst. An additional advantage is that lesser amounts of precious metal oxides need be deposited onto the hexaaluminate, while retaining activity similar to aluminum oxide compositions.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a coated article comprises a substrate with a coating comprising diamond like carbon layer, wherein the diamond like carbon layer comprising carbon and sulfur as terminal sulfur functional groups, wherein greater than or equal to about 70 wt % of the carbon present in the diamond like carbon layer comprises a sp3 carbon-to-carbon bond. The diamond like carbon layer has a concentration gradient such that the diamond like carbon layer on a side toward the substrate comprises a lower concentration of sulfur than a surface of the diamond like carbon layer disposed on a side of the layer opposite the substrate. The surface comprises about 0.1 at % to about 15 at % sulfur.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of treating a gas stream comprises: controlling an amount of the NH3 entering a catalytic unit and converting NO2 and the NH3 to N2 in the catalytic unit, wherein greater than or equal to about 60 wt % of NOx initially in the gas stream is converted to N2. In one embodiment, a gas treatment system comprises: a plasma reactor disposed downstream of an engine; a cracking catalyst disposed downstream of the engine; and a catalytic unit capable of converting NO and HC to NH3, and capable of converting NH3 and NO2 to N2.

Abstract: A catalyst for preferentially reducing carbon monoxide in a hydrogen stream. The catalyst is formed from a chemical composition including a hexaaluminate, a metal hydroxide and a precious metal. The composition may be disposed on a support or may be extruded or cast into or onto a support. Incorporation of hexaaluminates allows inclusion of metal hydroxides that flux the active precious metal surface at higher temperatures than can aluminum oxide-based catalytic compositions, thereby enhancing resistance of the catalyst and monolithic support and increasing the durability and thermal range of the PROX catalyst. An additional advantage is that lesser amounts of precious metal oxides need be deposited onto the hexaaluminate, while retaining activity similar to aluminum oxide compositions.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of making a sensor comprises: forming a slurry comprising a metal oxide, a binder, an acetate, and a reducing material, applying the slurry to at least a portion of a sensing element comprising two electrodes with an electrolyte disposed therebetween, and calcining the slurry to form a protective coating. In one embodiment, a gas sensor, comprises: a sensing element comprising a sensing electrode and a reference electrode having an electrolyte disposed therebetween, and a protective coating disposed over the sensing electrode, wherein the protective coating comprises aluminum oxide, an alpha alumina and about 2 wt % to about 15 wt % solid solution, based upon the total weight of the protective coating.

Abstract: An exhaust system can comprise a NOx adsorber, a reformer disposed upstream of a NOx adsorber and in fluid communication with a fuel source, a first valve for controlling the introduction of the fluid to an exhaust conduit; and a particulate filter disposed upstream and in fluid communication with the NOx adsorber and downstream an in fluid communication with the reformer such that the first valve controls introduction of fluid to the exhaust conduit upstream of the particulate filter. The reformer can be designed to generate a fluid comprising sufficient thermal energy, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide. Optionally, the particulate filter can be designed to be regenerated by the thermal energy and to adsorb a sufficient amount of the thermal energy to reduce the temperature of a gas stream comprising the fluid from a first temperature of about 600° C. to about 1,000° C. to a second temperature of less than or equal to about 500° C.

Abstract: Gas treatment devices and vehicle exhaust systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the vehicle exhaust system, comprises: an engine, a gas treatment device disposed downstream from the engine, the gas treatment device comprising a housing, a substrate disposed within the housing, the substrate comprising a catalyst and a hexaaluminate comprising a catalyst stabilizer disposed in a hexaaluminate crystal structure.

Abstract: A composition for forming an electrode for use in a torch jet spark plug is provided. The composition comprises a ceramic material, ceramic particles, and an electrically conductive material. The ceramic particles are dispersed within the ceramic material. At least some of the ceramic particles have a predetermined size. This predetermined size is at least as large as the thickness of the finally formed electrode. The electrically conductive material is capable of being manipulated to form ribbons around the ceramic particles and of being sintered to form the electrode. The resultant electrode has good resistance to explosive erosion mechanisms, which consequently increases the life of the torch jet spark plug.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a ceramic part, gas sensor, and method for making the gas sensor. The ceramic part comprises: an insulating layer affixed to a substrate wherein the insulating layer comprising Al2O3 particles; and a glass comprising about 45 to about 69 mole percent SiO2, 0 to about 9 mole percent B2O3, 0 to about 26 mole percent Al2O3, 0 and 25 mole percent SrO, and about 10 to about 26 mole percent RE2O3, where RE2O3 is selected from the group consisting of Y2O3, three valent rare earth oxides, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing. In one embodiment of a ceramic part, a gas sensor comprises: an electrolyte layer having disposed on opposite sides thereof a first electrode and a second electrode; and an insulating layer that is in intimate contact with the second electrode, wherein the insulating layer comprises alumina and frit.