Construction of urchin-structured Fe2O3 microspheres supported potassium for diesel soot catalytic elimination

The catalytic combustion was considered as a promising approach to eliminate diesel soot particulates. However, the development of this technology was limited by the lack of high efficient catalysts due to the poor contact efficiency between catalysts and soot particulates, and insufficient active oxygen species. Herein, urchin-structured Fe2O3 microspheres supported potassium (K/Fe2O3 US) was designed and successfully prepared through a facile hydrothermal and impregnation route. The as-obtained K/Fe2O3 US showed superior catalytic combustion activities for soot elimination. The ignition temperature at the soot conversion rates of 10% (T-10) and 50% (T-50) for K/Fe2O3 US are 300 degrees C and 351 degrees C, respectively. The results of multiple characterizations revealed the origin of the activity enhancement over K/Fe2O3 US catalysts. The urchin structure could improve the contact efficiency between catalyst and soot particulates. The loading of potassium on Fe2O3 increased the amounts of active oxygen species, promoting the oxidation property of the catalysts.

Automated summary

A catalytic combustion approach using urchin-structured Fe2O3 microspheres supported potassium (K/Fe2O3 US) was developed for diesel soot elimination, showing superior activities with ignition temperatures at 300°C and 351°C for 10% and 50% conversion rates, respectively. The urchin structure improved the contact efficiency between catalyst and soot, while potassium loading increased active oxygen species for enhanced oxidation properties.