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静电纺丝/涂层/分解三步工艺制成的陶瓷纳米纤维分散到一系列陶瓷微纤维中，用于过滤高达1800摄氏度的高温气体，同时保持结构完整性。与典型的单片或颗粒结构相比，陶瓷纳米纤维在气体过滤时的压降适度增加，从而显著提高了颗粒捕获效率。此外，纳米纤维的高表面积为改进催化剂支撑结构提供了基础。本研究将构建微纤维-纳米纤维介质，并在纳米纤维中加入Pd催化剂材料。然后测量催化剂的性能，并与目前的汽车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滤波器的设计。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和催化有害排放物，如氮氧化物和一氧化碳。这些过滤器也可以与催化转换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。陶瓷纳米纤维与催化剂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.