Project 20: metallic nanoparticles supported as catalysts for the CO preferential oxidation reaction

Abstract

The demand for new energy and more efficient technologies vectors suggest that the use of hydrogen gas in the fuel PEM cells for the production of electricity in mobile applications is one of the best alternatives to current internal combustion engines. However, such gas must have a much higher purity than presently obtained by catalytic reforming process of methane gas. CO is the primary contaminant which must be removed for proper operation of PEM cells. The best strategy is its oxidation to CO2 by means of catalysts at low temperatures. These catalysts are usually composed of metal particles dispersed in oxides. In this work, we will be prepared Au-TiO2 catalysts and Au-SnO2 / TiO2 evaluating its catalytic activity for CO removal in H2 rich mixtures. (AU)