A substrate for a catalytic converter, comprising an open cell carbon foam having a geometric surface area of at least about 5000 m.sup.2/m.sup.3 and a permeability of at least about 8.0 darcys.

The present invention relates to methods of immobilising metals on polymeric surfaces using surfactants and to products that can be formed by such methods. Polymer substrates with metal immobilised on the surface are very useful in a variety of applications. The metal is usually in the form of a nanoparticle. A major use of the invention is in catalysts. The invention can also be used in medical applications, such as to make antimicrobial surfaces.

A ferrite catalyst for oxidative dehydrogenation and a method of preparing the same. The ferrite catalyst is prepared using an epoxide-based sol-gel method, wherein a step of burning includes a first burning step, in which burning is performed at a temperature of 70 to 200 C.; and a second burning step, in which burning is performed after the temperature is raised from a temperature in the range of greater than 200 C. to 250 C. to a temperature in the range of 600 to 900 C.

A ferrite catalyst for oxidative dehydrogenation and a method of preparing the same. The ferrite catalyst is prepared using an epoxide-based sol-gel method, wherein a step of burning includes a first burning step, in which burning is performed at a temperature of 70 to 200 C.; and a second burning step, in which burning is performed after the temperature is raised from a temperature in the range of greater than 200 C. to 250 C. to a temperature in the range of 600 to 900 C.

A catalysis substrate, which includes an open cell carbon foam substrate having a geometric surface area of at least about 5000 m.sup.2/m.sup.3, wherein the substrate includes a catalytic metal.

A substrate for a catalytic converter, comprising an open cell carbon foam having a geometric surface area of at least about 5000 m.sup.2/m.sup.3 and a permeability of at least about 8.0 darcys.

A substrate for a catalytic converter, comprising an open cell carbon foam having a geometric surface area of at least about 5000 m.sup.2/m.sup.3 and a permeability of at least about 8.0 darcys.

A photocatalytic element including: a photocatalytic layer containing at least one photocatalytic material; and a light emitting source in optical communication with the photocatalytic material, the light emitting source disposed sufficiently proximal to the photocatalytic material to raise the surface temperature of at least some of the photocatalytic material to a temperature between 10 C. and 90 C. is provided.

A photocatalytic element including: a photocatalytic layer containing at least one photocatalytic material; and a light emitting source in optical communication with the photocatalytic material, the light emitting source disposed sufficiently proximal to the photocatalytic material to raise the surface temperature of at least some of the photocatalytic material to a temperature between 10 C. and 90 C. is provided.

A substrate for a catalytic converter, comprising an open cell carbon foam having a geometric surface area of at least about 5000 m.sup.2/m.sup.3 and a permeability of at least about 8.0 darcys.