A cement composition for application to a ceramic substrate, such as a cement skin composition for application to a ceramic honeycomb body is provided. The cement composition includes a first source of inorganic particles having a mean particle diameter <50 nm, wherein the first source of inorganic particles is present at about <15% (by dry weight), a second source of inorganic particles having a mean particle diameter of from about 50 nm to about 700 nm, wherein the second source of inorganic particles is present at from about 5% to about 15% (by dry weight), and a water-soluble organic binder. An inorganic fibrous material can be present at about <15% (based on dry weight). The amount of at least one of the first source of inorganic particles or the inorganic fibrous material is greater than 0% (by dry weight).

A cement composition for application to a ceramic substrate, such as a cement skin composition for application to a ceramic honeycomb body is provided. The cement composition includes a first source of inorganic particles having a mean particle diameter <50 nm, wherein the first source of inorganic particles is present at about <15% (by dry weight), a second source of inorganic particles having a mean particle diameter of from about 50 nm to about 700 nm, wherein the second source of inorganic particles is present at from about 5% to about 15% (by dry weight), and a water-soluble organic binder. An inorganic fibrous material can be present at about <15% (based on dry weight). The amount of at least one of the first source of inorganic particles or the inorganic fibrous material is greater than 0% (by dry weight).

A cement mixture for application to a honeycomb body and a method of forming a plugged ceramic honeycomb body is provided. The cement mixture contains a plurality of inorganic particles including at least about 50% of a refractory material selected from at least one of alumina and zirconia and less than about 15% titania (by weight), a pore forming agent, an organic binder, and a liquid vehicle.

A cement mixture for application to a honeycomb body and a method of forming a plugged ceramic honeycomb body is provided. The cement mixture contains a plurality of inorganic particles including at least about 50% of a refractory material selected from at least one of alumina and zirconia and less than about 15% titania (by weight), a pore forming agent, an organic binder, and a liquid vehicle.

An exhaust treatment apparatus for treating exhaust gas flowing through an exhaust line housing from an upstream location to a downstream location in a downstream direction, the exhaust treatment apparatus comprising a ceramic filter body having a honeycomb structure of a plurality of intersecting porous ceramic walls extending from a first end to a second end in an axial direction and defining a plurality of channels extending in the axial direction, wherein a first transverse face at the first end comprises metal oxide particles affixed to a portion of the intersecting walls. The metal oxide particles may be affixed to the upstream end, or the downstream end, or both the upstream and downstream ends. Preferably the metal oxide particles provide reinforcement to the underlying portion of the walls, and of the honeycomb structure itself.

An exhaust treatment apparatus for treating exhaust gas flowing through an exhaust line housing from an upstream location to a downstream location in a downstream direction, the exhaust treatment apparatus comprising a ceramic filter body having a honeycomb structure of a plurality of intersecting porous ceramic walls extending from a first end to a second end in an axial direction and defining a plurality of channels extending in the axial direction, wherein a first transverse face at the first end comprises metal oxide particles affixed to a portion of the intersecting walls. The metal oxide particles may be affixed to the upstream end, or the downstream end, or both the upstream and downstream ends. Preferably the metal oxide particles provide reinforcement to the underlying portion of the walls, and of the honeycomb structure itself.

A separation membrane complex includes a porous support and a separation membrane formed on the support and used to separate fluid. A supply/permeation area ratio obtained by dividing a supply-side surface area by a permeation-side surface area is higher than or equal to 1.1 and lower than or equal to 5.0, the supply-side surface area being the area of a region of the surface of the separation membrane to which fluid is supplied, the permeation-side surface area being the area of a region of the surface of the support from which fluid that has permeated through the separation membrane and the support flows off.

A separation membrane complex includes a porous support and a separation membrane formed on the support and used to separate fluid. A supply/permeation area ratio obtained by dividing a supply-side surface area by a permeation-side surface area is higher than or equal to 1.1 and lower than or equal to 5.0, the supply-side surface area being the area of a region of the surface of the separation membrane to which fluid is supplied, the permeation-side surface area being the area of a region of the surface of the support from which fluid that has permeated through the separation membrane and the support flows off.

A method of making a titanium dioxide nanowire array includes contacting a substrate with a solvent comprising a titanium (III) precursor, an acid, and an oxidant while microwave heating the solvent, thereby forming a hydrogen titanate H2Ti2O5.H2O nanowire array. The hydrogen titanate nanowire array is annealed to form a titanium dioxide nanowire array. The substrate is seeded with titanium dioxide before starting the hydrothermal synthesis of the hydrogen titanate nanowire array. The titanium dioxide nanowire array is loaded with a platinum group metal to form an exhaust gas catalyst. The titanium dioxide nanowire array can be used to catalyze oxidation of combustion exhaust.

A method of making a titanium dioxide nanowire array includes contacting a substrate with a solvent comprising a titanium (III) precursor, an acid, and an oxidant while microwave heating the solvent, thereby forming a hydrogen titanate H2Ti2O5.H2O nanowire array. The hydrogen titanate nanowire array is annealed to form a titanium dioxide nanowire array. The substrate is seeded with titanium dioxide before starting the hydrothermal synthesis of the hydrogen titanate nanowire array. The titanium dioxide nanowire array is loaded with a platinum group metal to form an exhaust gas catalyst. The titanium dioxide nanowire array can be used to catalyze oxidation of combustion exhaust.