Synergized platinum group metals (SPGM) with ultra-low PGM loadings employed as close-coupled (CC) three-way catalysts (TWC) systems with varied material compositions and configurations are disclosed. SPGM CC catalysts in which ZPGM compositions of binary or ternary spinel structures supported onto support oxides are coupled with commercialized PGM UF catalysts and tested under Federal Test Procedure FTP-75 within TGDI and PI engines. The performance of the TWC systems including SPGM CC (with ultra-low PGM loadings) catalyst and commercialized PGM UF catalyst is compared to the performance of commercialized PGM CC and PGM UF catalysts. The disclosed TWC systems indicate that SPGM CC TWC catalytic performance is comparable or even exceeds high PGM-based conventional TWC catalysts, with reduced tailpipe emissions.

Synergized platinum group metals (SPGM) with ultra-low PGM loadings employed as underfloor (UF) three-way catalyst (TWC) systems with varied material compositions and configurations are disclosed. SPGM UF catalysts in which ZPGM compositions of binary and ternary spinel structures supported onto support oxides are coupled with commercialized PGM close-coupled (CC) catalysts and tested under Federal Test Procedure FTP-75 within TGDI and PI engines. The performance of the TWC systems including commercialized PGM CC and SPGM UF (with ultra-low PGM loadings) catalysts is compared to the performance of commercialized PGM CC and PGM UF catalysts. The disclosed TWC systems indicate that SPGM UF TWC catalytic performance is comparable or even exceeds high PGM-based conventional TWC catalysts, with reduced tailpipe emissions.

A lean gasoline exhaust treatment catalyst article is provided, the article comprising a catalytic material applied on a substrate, wherein the catalytic material comprises a first composition and a second composition, wherein the first and second compositions are present in a layered or zoned configuration, the first composition comprising palladium impregnated onto a porous refractory metal oxide material and rhodium impregnated onto a porous refractory metal oxide material; and the second composition comprising platinum impregnated onto a porous refractory metal oxide material. Methods of making and using such catalyst articles and the associated compositions and systems employing such catalyst articles are also described.

An object of at least one embodiment of the present invention is to suppress poisoning due to phosphorus derived from engine oil, and effectively purify NOx discharged from the time of engine start up to a high load condition. In an exhaust gas purification catalyst for an internal combustion engine, a catalyst layer includes: a first catalyst layer exposed to an exhaust gas flow; and a second catalyst layer formed between the first catalyst layer and the substrate. A second catalyst upstream layer formed on an upstream side of the second catalyst layer with respect to the exhaust gas flow and a first catalyst downstream layer formed on a downstream side of the first catalyst layer with respect to the exhaust gas flow include at least one of palladium and platinum, as well as an oxygen storage material as the catalyst component. An amount of the oxygen storage material in the first catalyst downstream layer is larger than an amount of the oxygen storage material in the second catalyst upstream layer.

An object is to provide an exhaust gas purification catalyst for an internal combustion engine that can achieve a higher exhaust gas purification performance and a higher engine output performance. A catalyst layer is disposed in an exhaust gas passage, formed on a surface of the substrate, and includes: a first catalyst layer exposed to an exhaust gas flow; and a second catalyst layer formed between the first catalyst layer and the substrate. A catalyst component supported on the first catalyst layer includes rhodium. A catalyst component supported on the second catalyst layer includes at least one of palladium and platinum. The first catalyst layer is formed such that a density of the rhodium supported thereon decreases in a step-like manner through a plurality of segment zones segmented along an exhaust gas flow direction, and the second catalyst layer is formed such that a density of the palladium or the platinum supported thereon decreases in a step-like manner through a plurality of segment zones segmented along the exhaust gas flow direction.

An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, the exhaust system comprising, a lean NO.sub.x trap, and a wall flow monolithic substrate having a pre-coated porosity of 40% or greater, and comprising an oxidation catalytic zone, the oxidation catalytic zone comprising a platinum group metal loaded on a first support, the first support comprising at least one inorganic oxide and a zinc compound.

An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, the exhaust system comprising, a lean NO.sub.x trap (LNT), a wall flow monolithic substrate having a NO.sub.x storage and reduction zone thereon, the wall flow monolithic substrate having a pre-coated porosity of 40% or greater, the NO.sub.x storage and reduction zone comprising a platinum group metal loaded on a first support, the first support comprising one or more alkaline earth metal compounds, a mixed magnesium/aluminium oxide, cerium oxide, and at least one base metal oxide selected the group consisting of copper oxide, manganese oxide, iron oxide and zinc oxide.

The presently claimed invention provides a layered three-way catalyst composition for purification of exhaust gases from internal combustion engines; said catalyst comprises a first layer comprising i) palladium supported on at least one alumina component and at least one oxygen storage component; and ii) barium oxide; wherein said first layer is essentially free of strontium, and a second layer comprising: i) rhodium supported on at least one zirconia component and/or alumina component; ii) strontium oxide and/or barium oxide; and iii) optionally, palladium supported on at least one alumina component. The presently claimed invention also provides a process for preparing the layered three-way catalyst composition which involves a technique such as incipient wetness impregnation technique(A); co-precipitation technique (B); or co-impregnation technique(C). The process includes preparing a first layer; preparing a second layer; and depositing the second layer on the first layer followed by calcination. The presently claimed invention further provides a a layered three-way catalytic article in which the three-way catalyst composition is deposited on a substrate in a layered fashion and its preparation.

An exhaust gas purification catalyst that has an excellent exhaust gas purification performance while suppressing pressure loss increases. The exhaust gas purification catalyst is provided with a substrate having a wall-flow structure and having a partition; a first catalyst layer formed, in a region of an interior part of the partition that is in contact with an entrance cell, along the extending direction of the partition from an exhaust gas inflow-side end for less than the total length L.sub.w of the partition; and a second catalyst layer formed, in a region of an interior part of the partition that is in contact with an exit cell, along the extending direction of the partition from the exhaust gas outflow-side end for less than the total length L.sub.w of the partition. The first catalyst layer and the second catalyst layer are configured to partially overlap with each other in the extending direction.

The exhaust gas purification device is provided with a wall flow structure substrate that has an entry-side cell, an exit-side cell and a porous partition, first catalyst parts which are formed in small pores having a relatively small pore diameter among internal pores in the partition, and second catalyst parts which are formed in large pores having a relatively large pore diameter among the internal pores in the partition. The first catalyst parts and the second catalyst parts each contain a carrier and at least one type of noble metal from among Pt, Pd and Rh supported on the carrier. The noble metal content in the first catalyst parts is smaller than the noble metal content in the second catalyst parts per 1 liter of substrate volume.