Potential of use of ion implantation as a means of catalyst manufacturing

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the applicability of an ion implantation technique for catalyst manufacturing. The increasing production of vehicle catalysts has resulted in a growing consumption of the noble metals. Traditional methods of coating, such as impregnation, are thought to reduce the porosity and specific surface area of the catalysts. When ion implantation is used, the ions of the catalytic material are implanted into the substrate surface without affecting these properties. Several catalysts on different substrates were prepared by ion implantation and tested. The platinum-implanted catalyst showed a carbon monoxide (CO) conversion efficiency equal to that of the impregnated catalyst but with a 15 times lower platinum content. The CO conversion efficiency of the base metal based catalyst is doubled by platinum implantation. Details of the ion implantation parameters and test results are provided.