Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of reducing NOx contaminant in an exhaust stream includes: introducing diesel fuel and an oxidant to a reformer to produce a reformer effluent comprising hydrogen and nitrogen, introducing the reformer effluent to a non-thermal plasma reactor to produce ammonia, and introducing an exhaust stream and the ammonia to a SCR catalyst, whereby the NOx contaminant reacts with the ammonia.

Abstract: A diesel exhaust gas system includes a diesel particulate filter (DPF), a trap for nitrogen oxides (LNT), a hydrocarbon catalytic reformer for generating reformate, and an air supply. A method for controlling the rate of burn of soot in a DPF limits the oxygen percentage in the exhaust to about 6%. The LNT may be located ahead of the DPF in the exhaust line. Reformate is directed with exhaust through the LNT. The second flow of air cools the exhaust gas and thereby prevents overheating of the DPF substrate. The DPF also may be located ahead of the LNT. Reformate is controllably combusted by the second air flow in the DPF, reducing the oxygen percentage to about 6%, thus limiting the rate at which soot in the DPF can burn and thereby preventing overheating of the DPF substrate.

Abstract: A sensor including a species selective electrode and a reference electrode having an electrolyte layer disposed therebetween; a reference gas channel in fluid communication with the reference electrode; a heater and a temperature sensor; wherein the species selective electrode is disposed on a first side of an insulating layer separating the species selective electrode from the electrolyte layer, the insulating layer having a first substantially solid area and a second area having an opening pattern extending through the insulating layer; the species selective electrode comprising a species sensing electrode portion disposed on the opening pattern of the insulating layer so as to contact the electrolyte layer through the opening pattern and a non-active electrode lead portion disposed over the first substantially solid area so that the non-active electrode lead portion is in electrical communication with the species sensing electrode portion and is free from contact with the electrolyte layer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a flow switch can comprise: a deflector having a diverging upstream portion; an aperture located in a downstream portion of the deflector; and a divider disposed downstream of the deflector. The deflector can be capable of diverting a fluid stream that contacts the upstream portion, around the deflector. The aperture can be capable of allowing a flow of a displacing fluid such that the displacing fluid can inhibit the diverted fluid stream from converging to pass through the divider. The divider can be capable of allowing a flow of the displacing fluid therethrough.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are electrochemical cells comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, and a solid oxide electrolyte disposed between and in ionic communication with the first electrode and the second electrode. The solid oxide electrolyte comprises the reaction product of a solid oxide electrolyte material, an aliovalent cation dopant, and a sintering aid selected from the group consisting of Al2O3, Ca2Al2O5, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing. The electrochemical cells can be utilized water electrolyzers, hydrogen pumps and for various gas sensing cells, SOFCs, and the like.

Abstract: One embodiment of an ammonia gas sensor includes: a reference electrode, an ammonia selective sensing electrode and an electrolyte disposed therebetween. The sensing electrode comprises the reaction product of a main material selected from the group consisting of vanadium, tungsten, molybdenum, vanadium oxides, tungsten oxides, molybdenum oxides, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing main materials, and an electrically conducting material selected from the group consisting of electrically conductive metals, electrically conductive metal oxides, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing.

Abstract: A NOx abatement system comprising: a first NOx adsorber (18) capable of being disposed in-line and downstream of and in fluid communication with an engine (12); a selective catalytic reduction catalyst (20) disposed in-line and downstream of and in direct fluid communication with the first NOx adsorber (18), wherein the selective catalytic reduction catalyst (20) is capable of storing ammonia; and an off-line reformer (24) disposed in selective communication with and upstream of the first NOx adsorber (18) and the selective catalytic reduction catalyst (20), wherein the reformer (24) is capable of producing a reformate comprising primarily hydrogen and carbon monoxide.

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 gas sensor system includes an ammonia-sensing cell for generating a signal upon exposure to an unknown gas comprising ammonia, an A/F cell for generating a signal upon exposure to hydrocarbons in the gas, a heater in thermal communication with the cells and a housing in which the cells and the heater are mounted. The housing permits an unknown gas to flow therethrough for contact with the cells, and there is a sensor control circuit in communication with the cells. The sensor control circuit is configured to utilize the signals from the cells to generate an ammonia concentration signal indicating the concentration of ammonia in the unknown gas. Ammonia may be sensed in an unknown gas by heating such cells to selected working temperatures, exposing them to an unknown gas, obtaining signals from the cells, and using the cell signals to determine the ammonia content.

Abstract: One embodiment of an ammonia gas sensor includes: a reference electrode, an ammonia selective sensing electrode and an electrolyte disposed therebetween. The sensing electrode comprises the reaction product of a main material selected from the group consisting of vanadium, tungsten, molybdenum, vanadium oxides, tungsten oxides, molybdenum oxides, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing main materials, and an electrically conducting material selected from the group consisting of electrically conductive metals, electrically conductive metal oxides, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the exhaust manifold can comprise: an exhaust conduit having an inner surface, and an aluminide layer disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface of the manifold. In one embodiment, the method for making the exhaust manifold can comprise oxidizing aluminum on an inner surface of the manifold to form the aluminide layer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an exhaust treatment system comprises a selective catalytic reduction device, an off-line reformer disposed in selective fluid communication with and upstream of the selective catalytic reduction device, and a plasma reactor disposed downstream of and in fluid communication with the off-line reformer, and disposed upstream of and in fluid communication with the selective catalytic reduction device. The selective catalytic reduction device is capable of storing ammonia and of enabling the reaction of the ammonia with NOx. The reformer is capable of producing a reformate comprising hydrogen and nitrogen. The plasma reactor is capable of producing ammonia from the reformate, and is a thermal plasma reactor or a surface discharge non-thermal plasma reactor.

Abstract: An exhaust treatment device comprises a shell; a substrate disposed within the shell, the substrate having a catalyst disposed thereon, wherein the catalyst comprises platinum and a protective layer selected from the group consisting of tin oxide, iron oxide, and manganese oxide, and wherein the catalyst is capable of oxidizing greater than or equal to 50 wt. % carbon monoxide present in an exhaust gas stream at temperatures of about 150° C. to about 200° C.

Abstract: A method for preparing a non-thermal plasma reactor substrate includes disposing electrical vias on green stage first and second ceramic plates; filling the electrical vias with conductive material; and forming electrical contact via cover pads; disposing conductive material on the first ceramic plate to form an electrode plate having a main electrode portion and a terminal lead for electrically connecting the main electrode portion to the electrical vias; laminating the electrode plate and the second ceramic plate together, embedding the electrode therebetween; co-firing the plates to form a laminated co-fired embedded-conductor element; stacking a plurality of the laminated co-fired embedded-conductor elements to form a multi-cell stack, the filled electrical vias aligning in the stack to provide an electrical bus for connecting alternating elements in the stack; and disposing spacers with matching vias and via cover pads between adjacent pairs of elements to form exhaust gas passages.

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: In one embodiment, a method of reducing NOx contaminant in an exhaust stream includes: introducing diesel fuel and an oxidant to a reformer to produce a reformer effluent comprising hydrogen and nitrogen, introducing the reformer effluent to a non-thermal plasma reactor to produce ammonia, and introducing an exhaust stream and the ammonia to a SCR catalyst, whereby the NOx contaminant reacts with the ammonia.

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: An active system for regenerating a NOX adsorber and a particulate filter, the system comprising a fuel source, a reformer for generating hydrogen and carbon monoxide in fluid communication with the fuel source, a first valve, a second valve, and a third valve in fluid communication with the reformer, an oxidation catalyst, a NOX adsorber located downstream from the oxidation catalyst, a particulate filter located downstream from the NOX adsorber; and wherein the first valve, the second valve, and the third valve control fluid flow from the reformer to the oxidation catalyst, the NOX adsorber, and the particulate filter.

Abstract: A NOx control for an exhaust is provided. The NOx control includes a nickel compound and a NOx adsorber. Systems for treating an exhaust gas are also provided, including use of a non-thermal plasma reactor and a NOx control, and optionally a particulate trap.