Materials for high temperature electrochemical applications: Automotive sensors, catalysts and traps

Extensive emissions and fuel economy directives are stimulating the development of every more sophisticated sensors, catalyst systems and emissions traps with improved performance and self-evaluation capabilities. For the development of such systems, deeper insights are required to understand the often complex interplay between the chemical state of the material and its electrical, optical, thermal and mechanical properties. Three examples, illustrating how information gained about the defect, electronic and transport structure of oxide materials can be used to optimize sensor and catalyst properties, are presented. Also discussed are means for in situ monitoring of the status of exhaust catalysts and traps.