Catalysis discovery takes aim at NOx emissions

PNNL scientists looking for better vehicle emission treatments have discovered how potential catalyst materials are constructed. Researchers found that, in the presence of water, aluminum ions (gray) on the surface of alumina bond to six oxygen ions (red). Heating removes the water and leaves some aluminum ions with only five oxygen ions. This creates a bonding site for the NOx-removing catalyst barium oxide. Credit: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory