AIR PURIFICATION DEVICE FOR VEHICLES

Abstract

An ozone purification body supported on a vehicle component has manganese dioxide and activated carbon as ozone purification components. The mixing ratio (weight basis) of activated carbon and manganese dioxide is 4:1 to 1:4.

Description

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-167181 filed on Jul. 27, 2012 including the specification, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an air purification device for vehicles, and more particularly to an air purification device for vehicles that allows purifying ozone in air.

2. Description of Related Art

Ozone, which is one cause of photochemical smog, is generated as a result of photochemical reactions of HC and NOx that are present in exhaust gas of automobiles and factories. Accordingly, suppressing ozone generation by reducing emissions of HC and NOx from automobiles is an effective way of preventing the occurrence of photochemical smog. Otherwise, direct purification of ozone in air is a conceivable method for preventing the occurrence of photochemical smog. The occurrence of photochemical smog can be prevented yet more effectively by purifying also ozone, as a product, in addition to aiming at reducing emissions of HC and NOx as reactants. Against this background, automobiles provided with an air purification device for vehicles that enables direct purification of ozone in air have been introduced in some regions, such as California. These air purification devices for vehicles are referred to, in particular, as direct ozone reduction (DOR) systems.

For instance, Published Japanese Translation of PCT Application No. 2002-514966 (JP-2002-514966 A) discloses such a DOR system in which a metal oxide such as manganese dioxide is supported on a vehicle component such as a radiator. The radiator is disposed at a site that comes into contact with air during vehicle travel, and manganese dioxide has the function of purifying the ozone present in air by being converted to another substance such as oxygen. Therefore, the DOR system of JP-2002-514966 A enables direct purification of ozone in air during vehicle travel. Further, JP-2002-514966 A discloses an ozone purification test that utilizes the above metal oxide, and an ozone purification test that utilizes activated carbon (AC), and indicates that AC can an catalyze a reduction reaction of ozone to O₂.

Various materials, though not used in DOR systems, have been developed that rely on the ozone breakdown function of AC. For instance, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-104529 (JP-2011-04529 A) discloses the feature of using both manganese dioxide and AC in the form of a hazardous-substance removing material for eliminating ozone that is generated by electrophotographic devices such as laser printers, as well as formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOC) released by recording paper. This hazardous substance removing material, which exploits the ozone breakdown function and VOC adsorption function of AC, and the formaldehyde breakdown function of manganese dioxide, is produced through impregnation of AC particles with manganese dioxide particles. Specifically, JP-2011-104529 A (examples) discloses the feature of setting the impregnation proportion of manganese dioxide to 5 wt % and 10 wt % with respect to the total of impregnated AC particles.

Devices have also been developed that resort to the ozone purification function of a material such as the one disclosed in JP-2011-104529 A. For instance, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-33358 (JP-11-33358 A) discloses a deodorizer that has 10 wt % of AC, 26 wt % of alumina and 62 wt % of manganese dioxide. This deodorizer is developed for the purpose of decomposing and absorbing aldehydes, which are malodorous components. The deodorizer is used in combination with an ozone generator that is disposed upstream of the deodorizer. Specifically, ozone generated by the ozone generator is broken down by the deodorizer into active oxygen, and aldehydes are oxidized by the active oxygen and are adsorbed in the state of acetic acid.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-168854 (JP-5-168854 A), for instance, discloses a filter in which AC, as an adsorbent, is disposed downstream of an ozone purification body that utilizes manganese dioxide. This filter is developed in view of the fact that the ozone purification function of manganese dioxide is weaker at low temperature and at high humidity than at normal temperature. Further, JP-5-168854 A indicates that an ozone purification ratio can be maintained at a high level over long periods of time in experiments where the filter is used for treating ozone-containing air at a temperature of 5° C. and relative humidity of 100%. However, the reasons underlying such results in JP-5-168854 A are unclear.

Various materials have been developed that rely on functions, other than an ozone purification function, of manganese dioxide. For instance, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-289248 (JP-2006-289248 A) discloses a NOx purification material that is made up of a porous body of manganese dioxide that has a NOx breakdown function, and AC that supports palladium and that functions as a NO₂ adsorbent. The content of the manganese dioxide porous body in this NOx purification material ranges preferably from 40 to 80 wt %.

For instance, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-271966 (JP-2006-271966) discloses an adsorbent for chemical filters that utilizes manganese oxide and graphite. The purpose of the adsorbent for chemical filters is to adsorb and remove oxidizing gases such as NOx and SOx.

An ozone purification function is exhibited not only by a metal oxide such as manganese dioxide, but also by AC, as in JP-2002-514966 A. Herein, the ozone purification function of AC is advantageous in that it is comparable to that of a metal oxide such as manganese dioxide, while, in addition, ozone can be purified in a normal temperature region (about 20° C.). The ozone purification function of manganese dioxide is weaker at low temperature and high humidity than at normal temperature, as indicated in JP-5-168854 A. Therefore, an ozone purification body that combines manganese dioxide and AC can be expected to allow to make up for the shortcomings of ozone purification function by manganese dioxide, and to afford ozone purification over a wider temperature region. Such an ozone purification body shows hence promise as an ozone purification body for installation in DOR systems.

However, findings by the inventors have revealed differences between the ozone purification characteristics of manganese dioxide and AC. It has been found that, as a result, the ozone purification function elicited through a simple combination of manganese dioxide and AC is inferior in some instances to that achieved when using manganese dioxide or AC singly, depending on the environment in which the vehicle is actually traveling (hereafter also referred to as “actual-road environment”).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides an air purification device for vehicles such that the ozone purification function thereof can be brought out over long periods of time in a DOR system that utilizes an ozone purification body resulting from combining manganese dioxide and AC.

An air purification device for vehicles according to a first aspect of the invention has a vehicle component that is disposed at a site at which an air flow path is formed during travel of a vehicle; and an ozone purification body that is supported on the vehicle component and that includes manganese dioxide and AC as ozone purification components; wherein a weight ratio of AC in the ozone purification body ranges from 20% to 80%.

An air purification device for vehicles according to a second aspect of the invention has a vehicle component that is disposed at a site at which an air flow path is formed during travel of a vehicle; and an ozone purification body that is supported on the vehicle component and that includes manganese dioxide and AC as ozone purification components; wherein a weight ratio (manganese dioxide/AC) of the ozone purification components ranges from 0.25 to 4.0.

In the first or second aspect, the ozone purification body may be formed as a single-layer film on a surface of the vehicle component.

In the first or second aspect, the vehicle component may be at least one from among a radiator, an intercooler and an inverter for hybrid vehicles.

By virtue of these aspects, the invention succeeds in providing an air purification device for vehicles such that the ozone purification function of the device can be brought out over long periods of time in a DOR system that utilizes an ozone purification body resulting from combining manganese dioxide and AC.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals denote like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a vehicle equipped with an air purification device of an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a core section of a radiator 14 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the change in differential pore volume (cm³/g) of AC before and after an endurance test;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the change over time of an ozone purification ratio (%) of AC;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the content (%) of manganese dioxide and an ozone purification ratio (%) in an ozone purification body that uses manganese dioxide together with AC;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the content (%) of manganese dioxide and an ozone purification ratio (%) in an ozone purification body that uses manganese dioxide together with AC;

FIG. 7 illustrates the results of a water resistance test;

FIG. 8 illustrates the results of a chloride resistance test;

FIG. 9 illustrates the results of a sulfur poisoning resistance test;

FIG. 10 illustrates the relationship between useful-life ozone purification amount (g) and manganese dioxide ratio (%) in an ozone purification body;

FIGS. 11A to 11C are a set of cross-sectional schematic diagrams of core sections of radiators that are used in a durability assessment test of FIG. 12;

FIG. 12 illustrates the results of a durability assessment test;

FIGS. 13A and 13B are a diagram for explaining considerations relating to the results of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining considerations relating to the results of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[Configuration an Air Purification Device for Vehicles]

An embodiment of the invention will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 14. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a vehicle equipped with an air purification device of the embodiment. A vehicle 10 is provided with an internal combustion engine 12 as a motive power device. Exhaust gas that is discharged by the internal combustion engine 12 includes HC and NOx. Ozone is generated in photochemical reactions that have HC and/or NOx as reactants. Accordingly, an air purification device is installed in the vehicle 10 that is provided with the internal combustion engine 12, and ozone in air is purified during travel of the vehicle 10. The impact of the vehicle 10 on the environment can be reduced as a result.

A radiator 14 that cools cooling water that circulates in the internal combustion engine 12 is disposed in front of the internal combustion engine 12 of the vehicle 10. As denoted by the arrow in FIG. 1, air is taken in through a bumper grill 16 at the front of the vehicle 10, during travel of the latter. The air that is taken in passes through a condenser 16 and the radiator 14, in this order, and is dumped towards the internal combustion engine 12.

The detailed configuration of the radiator 14 will be explained next with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a core section of the radiator 14 of FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the core section of the radiator 14 is configured by implementing coating of a fin 18 with an ozone purification body layer 20. The fin 18 is made up of, for instance, an aluminum alloy or the like having excellent thermal conductivity, such that heat from the cooling water is transmitted from the fin 18 to the ozone purification body layer 20. The ozone purification body layer 20 is made up of an ozone purification body that has manganese dioxide and AC, and a binder for bonding the ozone purification body and the fin 18.

[Configuration of the Ozone Purification Body]

In the embodiment, the mixing ratio of AC and manganese dioxide (weight basis) that make up the ozone purification body is adjusted so as to range from 4:1 to 1:4. The weight ratio of AC in the ozone purification body is adjusted to range from 20% to 80%. The weight ratio (manganese dioxide/AC) in the ozone purification component ranges from 0.25 to 4.0. Ozone purification such that the environment in which the vehicle is actually traveling (hereafter also referred to as “actual-road environment”) is factored in is rendered possible by prescribing the blending ratio to lie within such a range. The grounds for the above mixing ratio are explained below.

The ozone purification function of AC will be explained first. AC has numerous pores formed therein, from the surface towards the interior. Ozone purification by AC takes place when ozone penetrates into the pores. Specifically, AC donates electrons to ozone. The activation energy of an ozone purification reaction is lowered as a result, and ozone is converted to oxygen and active oxygen (O₃→O₂+O*). The active oxygen that is generated in this ozone purification reaction has strong oxidizing power. Continued dwelling of active oxygen within the pores of the AC gives rise therefore to oxidation of the surrounding AC.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the change in differential pore volume (cm³/g) of AC before and after an endurance test. The endurance test is performed by causing an ozone-containing gas of a given concentration to pass from the front towards the rear of an AC test piece. As FIG. 3 shows, the differential pore volume exhibits a significant decrease after the endurance test versus before the endurance test. This signifies a drop in the abundance ratio of pores in AC. This result supports the finding to the effect that the ozone purification function of the AC is impaired on account of the above-described continued dwelling of active oxygen in the pores of AC.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the change over time of an ozone purification ratio (%) of AC. The ozone purification ratio in FIG. 4 is a ratio calculated by measuring the ozone concentration at the front and the rear of an AC test piece during passage of an ozone-containing gas, in accordance with the same method as in the endurance test of FIG. 3 (ozone purification ratio=rear ozone concentration/front ozone concentration).

The solid line in FIG. 4 denotes the ozone purification ratio of AC, and the broken line denotes the ozone purification ratio of manganese dioxide, for comparison. As FIG. 4 shows, AC exhibits an ozone purification ratio comparable to that of manganese dioxide in an initial stage. The ozone purification ratio of AC, however, decreases as the endurance time wears on, and over a long period of time drops to about ¼ of that during the initial stage.

The ozone purification ratio of manganese dioxide for comparison is high at the initial stage, and over an extended period of time drops to about half that of the initial stage. That is, manganese dioxide exhibits better durability in the ozone purification function than AC. Such being the case, it is expected that the drop in ozone purification function of AC can be made up for by using manganese dioxide simultaneously with AC.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are diagrams illustrating the relationship between the content (%) of manganese dioxide and the ozone purification ratio (%) in the ozone purification body that uses manganese dioxide together with AC. The ozone purification ratio in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 is calculated by causing an ozone-containing gas to pass through test pieces, prepared by varying the content of manganese dioxide, in accordance with the same method as in the endurance test of FIG. 3, and by measuring the ozone concentration at the front and rear of the test pieces in the same way as in FIG. 4. Herein, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 differ as regards the temperature of the ozone-containing gas. In FIG. 5, specifically, ozone-containing gas at 75° C. was supplied to the test pieces, and in FIG. 6 there was supplied ozone-containing gas at 25° C.

As FIG. 5 shows, a high ozone purification ratio is observed at an initial state (Fresh), regardless of the content of manganese dioxide. By contrast, the ozone purification ratio undergoes a change, at a boundary of a content of 20%, after the endurance test (Aged). The reason for this behavior can be explained on the basis of the results of FIG. 4. Specifically, the influence of the degradation of the ozone purification function of AC is greater when the content of manganese dioxide in the ozone purification body is 20% or lower. As FIG. 5 shows, the highest ozone purification ratio after the endurance test corresponds to a content of 80%.

The tendency illustrated in FIG. 5 is observed also in FIG. 6. Specifically, the ozone purification ratio undergoes a change, at a boundary of a content of 20%, after the endurance test (Aged), and the highest ozone purification ratio corresponds to a content of 80%. That is, the ozone purification ratio of the ozone purification body is high when the content of manganese dioxide in the ozone purification body ranges from 20% to 80%. As a characterizing feature in FIG. 6, the ozone purification ratio after the endurance test (Aged) is lower overall than that in the initial state (Fresh). The reasons for this can be ascribed, in addition to the reason expounded concerning FIG. 5, also to the temperature characteristic of the ozone purification function of manganese dioxide. Specifically, the ozone purification function of manganese dioxide is most active at a high temperature region (around 80° C.), and is weaker at a temperature region lower than that. In the endurance test of FIG. 6, the supply gas temperature is 25° C., and, accordingly, the bed temperature of the ozone purification body stays at about 25° C. The ozone purification function of manganese dioxide fails as a result to be sufficiently brought out. The degradation of the ozone purification function of AC as well exerts an additional influence herein. The ozone purification ratio after the endurance test exhibits an overall drop.

The inventors performed various endurance tests that assumed an actual-road environment. The results of these endurance tests will be explained with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9.

FIG. 7 illustrates the results of a water resistance test. To perform the water resistance test, an ozone-containing gas, having dissimilar water concentrations, is caused to pass from the front towards the rear of respective test pieces of varying blending ratio of AC and manganese dioxide. The ozone purification ratio in FIG. 7 is calculated by measuring the ozone concentration at the front and the rear of the test piece during gas passage (ozone purification ratio=rear ozone concentration/front ozone concentration). The temperature of the passing gas was set to 25° C.

As FIG. 7 shows, a high ozone purification ratio is observed in single AC (AC single body), regardless of whether the water concentration is high or low. When the ratio of manganese dioxide in the ozone purification body becomes higher, however, the ozone purification ratio drops as the water concentration increases. In a case of AC:manganese dioxide=1:4 (AC:MnO₂=1:4), specifically, the ozone purification ratio drops when the water concentration is higher than 2%. In the case of single manganese dioxide (single MnO), the ozone purification ratio drops significantly when the water concentration is higher than 1%.

The rationale for the water resistance test is that air contains moisture. The water concentration in air ranges ordinarily from 0.8% to 2.4% (relative humidity of about 30% to about 80%). Accordingly, the results of FIG. 7 indicate that, preferably, the proportion of manganese dioxide in the ozone purification body is lowered in order for the ozone purification body to exhibit a high ozone purification ratio, within such a water concentration range.

FIG. 8 illustrates the results of a chloride resistance test. In the chloride resistance test, test pieces of varying mixing ratio of AC and manganese dioxide are temporarily immersed in a chloride aqueous solution, and, thereafter, are subjected to a test identical to the endurance test illustrated in FIG. 3. The ozone purification ratio in FIG. 8 was calculated by measuring the ozone concentration at the front and rear of the test pieces in the endurance test, in the same way as in FIG. 4. The temperature of the passing gas was set to 25° C.

As FIG. 8 shows, the ozone purification ratio after the endurance test (Aged) was lower than that in an initial state (Fresh). The higher the ratio of manganese dioxide in the ozone purification body, the greater is the extent of this drop in ozone purification ratio. In particular, the ozone purification ratio after the endurance test dropped significantly with respect to that of the initial state in the case of single manganese dioxide (MnO₂).

The chloride resistance test is performed to account for the influence of snow melting agents (NaCl and CaCl₂). Snow melting agents, which are sprinkled on road surfaces for the purpose of freeze protection, fly off into air due to traction (splashing) and the like of a preceding vehicle, and become adhered to the radiator surface of a following vehicle. Accordingly, the results of FIG. 8 indicate that, preferably, the proportion of manganese dioxide in the ozone purification body is lowered in order for the ozone purification body, having a snow melting agent adhered thereto, to exhibit a high ozone purification ratio.

FIG. 9 illustrates the results of a sulfur poisoning resistance (S-resistance) test. To perform the S-resistance test, a gas having ozone and SO₂ is caused to pass through test pieces of varying blending ratio of AC and manganese dioxide. The ozone purification ratio in FIG. 9 was calculated by measuring the ozone concentration at the front and rear of the test pieces in the endurance test, in the same way as for the ozone purification ratio in FIG. 4. The temperature of the passing gas was set to 25° C.

As FIG. 9 shows, the ozone purification ratio after the endurance test (Aged) was lower than that in an initial state (Fresh) in the case of AC: manganese dioxide=1:4 (AC:MnO₂=1:4). In particular, the ozone purification ratio after the endurance test dropped significantly with respect to that of the initial state in the case of single manganese dioxide (MnO₂). By contrast, no difference in the ozone purification ratio before and after the endurance test was observed in the case of single AC. The ozone purification ratio after the endurance test exhibited a better result than of the initial state up to the case of AC:manganese dioxide=4:1 (AC:MnO₂=4:1).

The purpose of the S-resistance test is to account for the influence of SOx and NOx in air. That is because these gases that are emitted by vehicles may for instance become adhered to the radiator of the traveling vehicle. Accordingly, the results of FIG. 9 indicate that, preferably, the proportion of manganese dioxide in the ozone purification body is lowered in order for the ozone purification body to exhibit a high ozone purification ratio, even in the case, for instance, of adhesion of SO₂.

In the embodiment, the mixing ratio of AC is adjusted to lie within the above ranges, on the basis of the various test results described above. FIG. 10 illustrates the relationship between useful-life ozone purification amount (g) and manganese dioxide ratio (%) in the ozone purification body. The characteristic denoted by “ozone endurance” in FIG. 10 is based on the results of FIGS. 5 and 6. Specifically, durability of the ozone purification function is required in order to achieve a high ozone purification amount over the useful life. Therefore, the proportion of manganese dioxide in the ozone purification body must be 20% or higher. The characteristic “sulfate, chloride and water endurance” in the figure is based on the results of FIGS. 7 to 9. That is, the influence of the actual-road environment on the ozone purification function must be taken into account in order to achieve a high ozone purification amount over the useful life. Therefore, an excessively high proportion of manganese dioxide in the ozone purification is undesirable. A characteristic denoted by “actual-road environment” in FIG. 10 is derived thus taking all the above considerations into account.

Recent years, in particular, have witnessed a trend towards suppression of water passage frequency in radiators for engines, as fuel economy in vehicles has become steadily better. There is also a trend towards easing the load of the internal combustion engine, and curtailing the water passage frequency to the engine radiator, in so-called hybrid vehicles that are equipped with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, or with an internal combustion engine and a battery. Preferably, therefore, such a water passage environment is taken into account beforehand when an ozone purification body is to be supported on the radiator. Herein, the ratio of the components of the ozone purification body of the embodiment is adjusted on the basis of, for instance, the results of endurance tests in which the passing gas temperature is set to 25° C. Accordingly, a high ozone purification amount over the useful life can be achieved also in cases of continued running with low water passage frequency in the radiator.

[Configuration of the Ozone Purification Body Layer 20]

In the embodiment, the ozone purification body layer 20 is formed, on the fin 18, as a single-layer film of the ozone purification body. In addition to the above-described effects, degradation of the ozone purification function of AC can be suppressed satisfactorily by forming a single-layer film. The rationale for the single-layer film is explained next.

FIGS. 11A to 11C are a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a core section of a radiator that is used in a durability assessment test of FIG. 12. In FIG. 11A, an ozone purification body layer is formed by single AC ((i) single AC). In FIG. 1B, an ozone purification body layer is formed by manganese dioxide and AC ((ii) AC+MnO₂ (one-layer coat)). In FIG. 11C, an upper layer of manganese dioxide is formed on a lower layer of AC ((iii) AC+MnO₂ (two-layer coat)). Each ozone purification body layer was formed by coating an aluminum film with a slurry prepared in such a manner that the weight after drying was 25 g/L.

FIG. 12 illustrates the results of a durability assessment test. The durability assessment test is performed by causing an ozone-containing gas of a given concentration to pass from the front towards the rear of the radiators illustrated in FIGS. 11A to 11C. The ozone purification ratio in FIGS. 1A to 11C is calculated by measuring the ozone concentration before and after the radiator during the durability assessment test.

As FIG. 12 shows, a comparison between the constituent components of the ozone purification body reveals that drops in ozone purification ratio can be suppressed to a greater degree in the case of manganese dioxide plus AC (FIG. 11B or FIG. 11C) than in the case of single AC (i). Also, a comparison between the one-layer coat (FIG. 11B) and the two-layer coat (FIG. 11C) reveals that drops in the ozone purification ratio are suppressed to a greater extent in the case of the one-layer coat (FIG. 11A) than in the case of the two-layer coat (FIG. 11C). The above indicates that durability is higher in the case of the one-layer coat (ii).

FIGS. 13A, 13B and 14 are diagrams for explaining considerations relating to the results of FIG. 12. FIG. 13A corresponds to a coat image diagram of FIG. 11B, and FIG. 13B corresponds to a coat image diagram of FIG. 11C. As illustrated in FIG. 13A, manganese dioxide particles and AC particles in the ozone purification body layer are close to each other in the case of a one-layer coat. It is deemed that, as a result, manganese dioxide that penetrates into the pores of the AC, as illustrated in FIG. 14, and inhibits the above-described oxidation reaction by active oxygen, or ozone purification takes place in the pores. In the case of a two-layer coat, by contrast, the AC layer is formed by the AC particles, and the manganese dioxide layer is formed by the manganese dioxide particles, as illustrated in FIG. 13B. Therefore, the AC particles and the manganese dioxide particles do not come close to each other in one same layer. It is deemed that the drop in the ozone purification function of the AC is accordingly linked to the drop in the ozone purification ratio.

The above suggests that a synergistic effect of the use of manganese dioxide and AC can be expected to be elicited by forming the ozone purification body layer 20 as a single-layer film of an ozone purification body. In consequence, the embodiment allows achieving a high ozone purification amount over the useful life.

In the above embodiment, the ozone purification body is provided in the radiator 14, but the ozone purification body may be installed in an air-conditioning condenser, an intercooler, or an inverter for hybrid vehicles. Like the radiator 14, these components are installed in vehicles, and are cooled by a component (a refrigerant, in the case of water cooling) according to the same cooling principle of the radiator 14. The ozone purification body layer 20 can thus be likewise formed, in the same way as in the embodiment, on such components.

Claims

1. An air purification device for vehicles, comprising:

a vehicle component that is disposed at a site at which an air flow path is formed during travel of a vehicle; and

an ozone purification body that is supported on the vehicle component and that includes manganese dioxide and activated carbon, as ozone purification components,

wherein a weight ratio of activated carbon in the ozone purification body ranges from 20% to 80%.

2. The air purification device for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein

the ozone purification body is a single-layer film formed on a surface of the vehicle component.

3. The air purification device for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein

the vehicle component is at least one from among a radiator, an intercooler and an inverter for hybrid vehicles.

4. An air purification device for vehicles, comprising:

a vehicle component that is disposed at a site at which an air flow path is formed during travel of a vehicle; and

an ozone purification body that is supported on the vehicle component and that includes manganese dioxide and activated carbon, as ozone purification components,

wherein a weight ratio (manganese dioxide/activated carbon) of the ozone purification components ranges from 0.25 to 4.0.

5. The air purification device for vehicles according to claim 4, wherein

the ozone purification body is a single-layer film formed on a surface of the vehicle component.

6. The air purification device for vehicles according to claim 4, wherein

the vehicle component is at least one from among a radiator, an intercooler and an inverter for hybrid vehicles.