A method of forming a metal oxide material having a rod shape or polyhedral nanostructure includes preparing a first reverse micro-emulsion system comprising an aqueous precipitating agent dispersion and a second reverse micro-emulsion system containing an aqueous metal salt dispersion; combining the micro-emulsions together to initiate a reaction; allowing the reaction to continue to form a product mixture comprising a metal oxide gel and aqueous media; separating the metal oxide gel from the aqueous media; collecting the metal oxide gel; and calcining the metal oxide gel to form the metal oxide material. The metal oxide material corresponds to the chemical formula of La.sub.2M.sub.xNi.sub.1-xO.sub.4, Pr.sub.2-yA.sub.yNiO.sub.4, or La.sub.2-zD.sub.zNiO.sub.4, wherein M is copper, cobalt, iron, manganese, chromium, aluminum, or platinum; A is lanthanum or neodymium; D is calcium, barium or strontium; x ranges from 0 to 1; y ranges from 0 to 2; and z ranges from 0 to 0.25.

Methods and systems are provided for a multicomponent aftertreatment device arranged in a vehicle exhaust gas passage. In one example, a system may include an oxygen storage catalyst and an underbody trap catalyst comprising metal modified zeolite, the oxygen storage catalyst arranged upstream of the underbody trap catalyst in an exhaust passage of the vehicle.

An after treatment system is disclosed. The after treatment system may include a three-way catalyst (TWC), a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst, and a CO clean-up catalyst (CUC) on an exhaust pipe through which an exhaust gas flows. The CUC may include a zeolite in which Cu and Fe are ion-exchanged and CeO.sub.2 in which Pt is supported, wherein a weight ratio of the CeO.sub.2 to a total weight of the CUC is 30-70 wt % such that the CUC purifies NH.sub.3 at a lean air/fuel ratio and purifies NH.sub.3 during a delay time at a rich air/fuel ratio.

The catalyst in this present application includes a support and an active component dispersed on/in the support; wherein the support is at least one selected from inorganic oxides and the support contains macropores and mesopores; and the active component includes an active element, and the active element contains an iron group element. As a high temperature stable catalyst for methane reforming with carbon dioxide, the catalyst can be used to produce syngas, realizing the emission reduction and recycling utilization of carbon dioxide. Under atmospheric pressure and at 800° C., the supported metal catalyst with hierarchical pores shows excellent catalytic performance. In addition to high activity and good selectivity, the catalyst has high stability, high resistance to sintering and carbon deposition.

Provided herein are structured catalysts, methods of making structured catalysts, and methods of using structured catalysts for pre-reforming of hydrocarbons. The structured catalysts contain a structured catalyst substrate, a first coating containing cerium-gadolinium oxide; and a second coating containing nickel and cerium-gadolinium oxide.

The invention is directed to a CO to CO.sub.2 combustion promoter comprising microsphere sized porous silica and/or alumina comprising particles further comprising on or more Group VIII noble metals wherein the noble metal is distributed in the particle as an eggshell such that a higher content of noble metal is present in the outer region of the particle as compared to the content of noble metal in the center of the particle.

Provided herein are catalyst materials and processes for processing hydrocarbons. For example, doped ceria-supported metal catalysts are provided exhibiting good activity and stability for commercially relevant DRM process conditions including low temperature and long term operation.

A nitrous oxide (N.sub.2O) removal catalyst composition for treating an exhaust stream of an internal combustion engine is provided, containing a platinum group metal (PGM) component on a metal oxide-based support, wherein the N.sub.2O removal catalyst composition is in a substantially reduced form, such that it has an oxygen deficiency of about 0.05 mmol oxygen atoms/g or greater, and wherein the N.sub.2O removal catalyst composition provides effective removal of at least a portion of N.sub.2O from the exhaust stream under lean conditions at a temperature of about 350 C. or lower. N.sub.2O removal catalytic articles, systems, and methods are also provided for removing at least a portion of N.sub.2O from an exhaust stream under lean, low temperature conditions.

A method for producing a methane-rich gas from a heavy hydrocarbon feed, the method comprising the steps of introducing the heavy hydrocarbon stream to a catalytic reactor, the catalytic reactor comprising an activated catalyst, the activated catalyst comprising 20 wt % of nickel, 70 wt % of a cerium oxide component, and 10 wt % of a gadolinium oxide component; applying the heavy hydrocarbon stream to the activated catalyst; and producing the methane-rich gas over the activated catalyst, wherein the methane-rich gas is selected from the group consisting of methane, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and combinations of the same.

A catalyst composition for converting an alcohol to olefins, the catalyst composition comprising the following components: (a) a support (e.g., particles) comprising silicon and oxygen; (b) at least one of copper and silver residing on and/or incorporated into said support; and (c) at least one lanthanide element residing on and/or incorporated into said support. The catalyst may also further include component (d), which is zinc. Also described herein is a method for converting an alcohol to one or more olefinic compounds (an olefin fraction) by contacting the alcohol with a catalyst at a temperature of at least 100 C. and up to 500 C. to result in direct conversion of the alcohol to an olefin fraction containing one or more olefinic compounds containing at least three carbon atoms; wherein ethylene and propylene are produced in a minor proportion of the olefin fraction, and butenes and higher olefins are produced in major proportion.