Abstract: CuO—ZnO—CeO2 catalyst and aged CuO—ZnO catalyst catalytically active for low temperature oxidation of carbon monoxide. The catalysts are co-precipitated, filtered, washed, dried, and calcined. The catalysts can be incorporated into a component of a cigarette or can be used to reduce the concentration of carbon monoxide from a vehicle exhaust emission, a gas used in a laser, a gas used in a fuel cell and/or ambient air undergoing air filtration.

Abstract: A method of making intermetallic nanoscale particles comprising iron aluminide and/or iron aluminum carbide comprising the steps of preparing a mixture of a solvent, an iron salt and LiAlH4, and heating the mixture to form the intermetallic nanoscale particles. The intermetallic nanoscale particles, which can comprise intermetallic nanoscale particles of iron aluminide and/or iron aluminum carbide in an alumina matrix, are capable of reducing the amount of 1,3-butadiene in the mainstream smoke of a cigarette.

Abstract: CuO—ZnO—CeO2 catalyst and aged CuO—ZnO catalyst catalytically active for low temperature oxidation of carbon monoxide. The catalysts are co-precipitated, filtered, washed, dried, and calcined. The catalysts can be incorporated into a component of a cigarette or can be used to reduce the concentration of carbon monoxide from a vehicle exhaust emission, a gas used in a laser, a gas used in a fuel cell and/or ambient air undergoing air filtration.

Abstract: A metallo-organic decomposition process for the preparation of intermetallic powders and films. A liquid mixture containing a first metal precursor and a second metal is heated to a temperature in a first temperature range so as to convert the first metal precursor to a first metal followed by heating to a temperature in a second temperature range so as to form an intermetallic compound by a solid state reaction between the first and second metals. The intermetallic compound can be used as a catalyst in cut filler and/or the filter of a cigarette.

Abstract: Catalysts for the conversion, or oxidation, of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. Cigarettes with filters containing the catalysts have acceptable resistance to draw. Additionally, the catalysts can be used to reduce the concentration of carbon monoxide from a vehicle exhaust emission, a gas used in a CO2 laser, a gas used in a fuel cell and/or ambient air undergoing air filtration.

Abstract: A catalyst comprising gold nanodots on cerium oxide, catalytically active for oxidation of carbon monoxide at room temperature. The catalyst is prepared by deposition-precipitation followed by aging or ultrasound treatment.

Abstract: A method of making composite nanoscale particles comprising subjecting a starting material to laser energy so as to form a vapor and condensing the vapor so as to form the composite nanoscale particles, wherein said composite nanoscale particles comprise a first metal and/or a first metal oxide incorporated in nanoscale particles of an oxide of a second metal, the first metal being different than the second metal. The starting material can comprise first and second metals or compounds of the first and second metals. The composite nanoscale particles can be formed in a reaction chamber wherein a temperature gradient is provided. The atmosphere in the chamber can be an inert atmosphere comprising argon or a reactive atmosphere comprising oxygen. The composite nanoscale particles are useful for low-temperature and near-ambient temperature catalysis.

Abstract: Nanocomposite copper-ceria catalysts are provided, which comprise copper oxide nanoparticles, copper nanoparticles, or a mixture thereof combined with ceria nanoparticles. Methods for making such catalysts are also provided, which involve the steps of (i) combining ceria nanoparticles in an aqueous suspension with copper 2,4-pentanedionate to form a slurry; (ii) heating the slurry formed in step (i) under an inert gas atmosphere or an oxygen-argon atmosphere, at a temperature and for a time sufficient to cause decomposition of the copper 2,4-pentanedionate to form copper nanoparticles and/or copper oxide nanoparticles that are combined with the ceria nanoparticles; and (iii) optionally, subjecting the product formed in step (ii) to a heat treatment process under conditions effective to convert at least some of the copper nanoparticles to copper oxide nanoparticles.

Abstract: A method of making Cu, Zn, and/or Cu/Zn alloy nanoparticles subjects one or more targets to laser energy to form a vapor and condenses the vapor to form nanoparticles having an average particle size of less than 20 nm. The optional application of an electric field results in nanoparticles with aspect ratios greater than 1.0. The target(s) can be a single target or separate targets comprising a mixture of copper, zinc, and/or copper/zinc. When separate targets are used, the laser beam can be split to form two separate beams each of which is made incident upon one of the targets. The nanoparticles can be formed in a chamber having an inert atmosphere or a reactive atmosphere and a convection current is created in the chamber by maintaining the top plate at a lower temperature than the bottom plate.

Abstract: Catalysts for the conversion, or oxidation, of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. Cigarettes with filters containing the catalysts have acceptable resistance to draw. Additionally, the catalysts can be used to reduce the concentration of carbon monoxide from a vehicle exhaust emission, a gas used in a CO2 laser, a gas used in a fuel cell and/or ambient air undergoing air filtration.

Abstract: Cut filler compositions, cigarette paper, cigarette filters, cigarettes, methods for making cigarettes and methods for smoking cigarettes are provided, which involve the use of nanoscale particle composite catalysts capable of acting as a catalyst for the conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. The nanoscale composite catalyst comprises metal and/or metal oxide particles supported on nanoscale support particles. The nanoscale composite catalyst can be prepared by forming a mixture by combining nanoscale particles with a colloidal solution, a metal precursor solution with nanoscale particles, or a metal precursor solution with a colloidal solution, and then heat-treating the mixture.

Abstract: A catalyst comprising gold nandots on cerium oxide, catalytically active for oxidation of carbon monoxide at room temperature. The catalyst is prepared by deposition-precipitation followed by aging or ultrasound treatment.

Abstract: A smoking article composition and a method of making a smoking article composition comprising tobacco cut filler, cigarette paper and/or cigarette filter material further comprising a catalyst capable of converting carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, wherein the catalyst comprises nanoscale catalyst particles dispersed within a porous aluminosilicate matrix. The catalyst can be formed by combining nanoscale catalyst particles or a metal precursor solution thereof with an alumina-silica sol mixture to form a slurry, gelling the slurry to form the co-gel, heating the co-gel to form a catalyst comprising nanoscale catalyst particles dispersed within a porous aluminosilicate matrix. The catalyst can be incorporated in tobacco cut filler, cigarette paper and/or cigarette filter material by spraying, dusting and/or immersion.

Abstract: A method for forming a copper oxide catalyst includes forming a precipitate of copper hydroxide from a copper salt solution; forming dried particles of copper hydroxide by drying the precipitate at a temperature of less than 30° C.; heating the copper hydroxide particles to form copper oxide; and activating the copper oxide. The copper oxide catalyst includes particles of copper oxide. Copper oxide catalyst particles can preferably include a metastable form of copper oxide. The copper oxide catalyst particles are useful for low-temperature and near-ambient temperature catalysis and/or oxidation of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide.

Abstract: CuO—ZnO—CeO2 catalyst and aged CuO—ZnO catalyst catalytically active for low temperature oxidation of carbon monoxide. The catalysts are co-precipitated, filtered, washed, dried, and calcined. The catalysts can be incorporated into a component of a cigarette or can be used to reduce the concentration of carbon monoxide from a vehicle exhaust emission, a gas used in a laser, a gas used in a fuel cell and/or ambient air undergoing air filtration.

Abstract: A method of making palladium-containing nanoscale catalyst particles comprising subjecting a starting material to laser energy so as to form a vapor and condensing the vapor so as to form the catalyst particles. The catalyst comprises nanoscale particles of palladium and/or palladium oxide incorporated in and/or on nanoscale particles of a metal or metal oxide. The nanoscale catalyst, which can be incorporated in the tobacco cut filler, cigarette wrapper and/or cigarette filter of a cigarette, is useful for low-temperature and near-ambient temperature catalysis. The nanoscale catalyst can convert carbon monoxide and nitric oxide that are found in mainstream smoke to carbon dioxide and nitrogen, respectively. The nanoscale catalyst may also be incorporated into a hydrocarbon conversion reactor, into a vehicle exhaust emissions system, into a laser, into a fuel cell or used in an air filter or for emissions reduction in the cold starting of an automobile engine.

Abstract: A method of making intermetallic nanoscale particles comprising iron aluminide and/or iron aluminum carbide comprising the steps of preparing a mixture of a solvent, an iron salt and LiAlH4, and heating the mixture to form the intermetallic nanoscale particles. The intermetallic nanoscale particles, which can comprise intermetallic nanoscale particles of iron aluminide and/or iron aluminum carbide in an alumina matrix, are capable of reducing the amount of 1,3-butadiene in the mainstream smoke of a cigarette.

Abstract: A method of making intermetallic nanoscale particles comprising iron aluminide and/or iron aluminum carbide comprising the steps of preparing a mixture of a solvent, an iron salt and LiAlH4, and heating the mixture to form the intermetallic nanoscale particles. The intermetallic nanoscale particles, which can comprise intermetallic nanoscale particles of iron aluminide and/or iron aluminum carbide in an alumina matrix, are capable of reducing the amount of 1,3-butadiene in the mainstream smoke of a cigarette.

Abstract: A method of making composite nanoscale particles comprising subjecting a starting material to laser energy so as to form a vapor and condensing the vapor so as to form the composite nanoscale particles, wherein said composite nanoscale particles comprise a first metal and/or a first metal oxide incorporated in nanoscale particles of an oxide of a second metal, the first metal being different than the second metal. The starting material can comprise first and second metals or compounds of the first and second metals. The composite nanoscale particles can be formed in a reaction chamber wherein a temperature gradient is provided. The atmosphere in the chamber can be an inert atmosphere comprising argon or a reactive atmosphere comprising oxygen. The composite nanoscale particles are useful for low-temperature and near-ambient temperature catalysis.

Abstract: A component of a cigarette comprises a silver-based catalyst for the conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. The silver-based catalyst comprises particles (e.g., nanoscale or larger sized particles) of metallic silver and/or silver oxide supported in and/or on metal oxide support particles. The silver-based catalyst can be incorporated into a cigarette component such as tobacco cut filler, cigarette paper and cigarette filter material to reduce the concentration of carbon monoxide in the mainstream smoke of a cigarette during smoking. The catalyst can also be used in non-cigarette applications.