STTR Phase I: Metal Oxide Nanofibers for Filter and Catalyst Support Structures

小型企业技术转移研究(STTR)第一阶段项目将把由三步静电纺丝/涂层/分解工艺制成的陶瓷纳米纤维分散成一系列陶瓷微纤维，用于过滤高达1800℃的高温气体，同时保持结构完整性。与典型的整体式或颗粒式结构相比，陶瓷纳米纤维显著提高了颗粒捕获效率，并适度增加了气体过滤的压降。此外，纳米纤维的高比表面积为改进催化剂载体结构提供了基础。在本工作中，将构建微纤维-纳米纤维介质，并在纳米纤维中添加钯催化剂材料。然后对催化剂的性能进行测试，并与目前车用蜂窝催化剂的性能进行比较。这项工作的结果可以随后用于优化过滤器的设计。所提出的技术将提供一种相对廉价的方法来捕获烟尘颗粒并催化NOx和CO等有害排放。这些过滤器也可以与催化转化器组合成一个单一的多功能单元，以节省汽车的空间和重量。具有催化剂的陶瓷纳米纤维的其他潜在应用包括储氢罐和燃料电池。

The Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) Phase I project will intersperse ceramic nanofibers made from a three-step electrospinning/coating/decomposing process into an array of ceramic microfibers for filtering hot gases up to 1800C , while retaining structural integrity. The ceramic nanofibers offer significant improvements in particulate capture efficiency with moderate increases in pressure drop for gas filtration compared to typical monolithic or granular structures. In addition, the high surface area of the nanofibers provides a basis for improved catalyst support structures. In this work, the microfiber-nanofiber media will be constructed, and Pd catalyst material added to the nanofibers. Catalyst performance will then be measured and compared with the perormance of current motor vehicle honeycomb catalyst. Results from this work can be subsequently used to optimize the filter design.The proposed technology will provide a relatively inexpensive method for capturing soot particles and catalyzing harmful emissions such as NOx and CO. These filters may also be combined with the catalytic converters as a single multifunctional unit to save space and weight on the automobile. Other potential applications of ceramic nanofibers with catalysts include hydrogen storage tanks and fuel cells.