Patent Description:
An electrically heated catalyst (EHC) has attracted attention as a catalyst for purifying an exhaust gas emitted from an engine of, for example, an automobile. To enable an exhaust gas purification catalyst for an internal combustion engine to exhibit sufficient purification performance, the temperature of the exhaust gas purification catalyst needs to increase to a temperature at which the catalyst is activated. A typical exhaust gas purification catalyst is heated by using heat of an exhaust gas, and thus, if the temperature of the exhaust gas is low, for example, immediately after the engine has started, high purification performance cannot be obtained. On the other hand, in an electrically heated catalyst, even if the temperature of an exhaust gas is low, for example, immediately after the engine has started, the catalyst can be activated by increasing the temperature of the catalyst in a short time by energization heating. Thus, even if the temperature of the exhaust gas is low, sufficient purification performance can be obtained, and purification efficiency of the exhaust gas can be enhanced accordingly.

A typical configuration of an electrically heated catalyst includes a base material and a catalyst layer. A known base material of an electrically heated catalyst contains silicon carbide (SiC), which is ceramic having conductivity. A known example of this base material includes a silicon-silicon carbide (Si-SiC) composite material in which Si is bonded to SiC as a material having a lower resistance than SiC (see, for example, Patent Documents <NUM> and <NUM>). On the other hand, a known catalyst layer of an electrically heated catalyst contains, for example, a platinum-group metal (PGM) as a catalyst component, and an oxygen storage material (OSC material) (see, for example, Patent Document <NUM>). <CIT> discloses a honeycomb body for energization heating.

Through an intensive study, inventors of the present invention have found the followings. In an exhaust gas purification catalyst using a base material including a Si-SiC composite material, when the catalyst is exposed to a high temperature, Si in the Si-SiC composite material migrates to a catalyst layer and is diffused therein to react with an oxygen storage material, resulting in the possibility of deterioration of the oxygen storage material. Here, in a case where the catalyst layer contains a barium (Ba) component in order to suppress poisoning of a platinum-group metal by hydrocarbon (HC), the Ba element promotes diffusion of Si into the catalyst layer, and consequently, promotes deterioration of the oxygen storage material. Thus, the case where the barium component is contained in the catalyst layer of the exhaust gas purification catalyst using the base material including the Si-SiC composite material involves the problem of low deterioration resistance of oxygen storage capacity when exposed to high temperatures (i.e., durability of oxygen storage capacity to high temperatures).

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an exhaust gas purification catalyst that includes a base material containing a Si-SiC composite material and a catalyst layer containing a barium component and that has excellent high-temperature durability of oxygen storage capacity. Solution to Problems.

An exhaust gas purification catalyst disclosed here includes: a base material; and a catalyst layer in contact with the base material. The base material contains a silicon-silicon carbide composite material. The catalyst layer includes a platinum-group catalyst, a barium component, and an oxygen storage material. The barium component is at least one material selected from the group consisting of barium and a barium compound. The barium component is present at least on the surface of an oxygen storage material. The barium component has an average particle size of <NUM> or more and <NUM> or less.

With this configuration, by controlling the particle size of the barium component appropriately, the Ba element can exist in a dispersed state in the catalyst layer together with the platinum-group catalyst, with reduction of contact between the Ba element contained in the catalyst layer and the Si element contained in the base material. Thus, diffusion of Si into the catalyst layer can be suppressed by the Ba element so that deterioration of oxygen storage material caused by Si can be thereby suppressed. As a result, high-temperature durability of oxygen storage capacity of the exhaust gas purification catalyst can be enhanced. That is, this configuration provides an exhaust gas purification catalyst that includes a base material containing a Si-SiC composite material and a catalyst layer containing a barium component and that has excellent high-temperature durability of oxygen storage capacity.

In a preferred aspect of the exhaust gas purification catalyst disclosed here, the average particle size of the barium component is <NUM> or more and <NUM> or less. This configuration can further enhance high-temperature durability of the oxygen storage capacity.

In another preferred aspect of the exhaust gas purification catalyst disclosed here, the platinum-group metal is Pd. This configuration can further enhance high-temperature durability of the oxygen storage capacity.

In yet another preferred aspect of the exhaust gas purification catalyst disclosed here, the exhaust gas purification catalyst further includes an electrode, and the exhaust gas purification catalyst is an electrically heated catalyst.

This configuration provides the electrically heated catalyst having excellent high-temperature durability of oxygen storage capacity.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings. Matters not specifically mentioned in the description but required for carrying out the present invention can be understood as design matters of a person skilled in the art based on related art in the field. The present invention can be carried out on the basis of the contents disclosed in the description and technical knowledge in the field. The drawings described later are schematically shown for understanding the contents of the invention, and dimensional relationships (e.g., length, width, and thickness) in the drawings do not reflect actual dimensional relationships.

<FIG> schematically illustrates an example of an exhaust gas purification catalyst according to this embodiment. <FIG> is an example of a case where the exhaust gas purification catalyst according to this embodiment is configured as an electrically heated catalyst. <FIG> schematically illustrates a layered structure of the exhaust gas purification catalyst illustrated in <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, an exhaust gas purification catalyst <NUM> includes a base material <NUM> and a catalyst layer <NUM>. The catalyst layer <NUM> is disposed directly on the base material <NUM>, and therefore, the catalyst layer <NUM> is in contact with the base material <NUM>.

The base material <NUM> is a member supporting the catalyst layer <NUM>. The base material <NUM> contains a Si-SiC composite material. Since the base material <NUM> contains the Si-SiC composite material, high conductivity can be obtained. In addition, the Si-SiC composite material can function as a resistance heating body, and thus, the Si-SiC composite material contained in the base material <NUM> enables the exhaust gas purification catalyst <NUM> to be used as an electrically heated catalyst.

The base material <NUM> may contain a component other than the Si-SiC composite material within the range that does not significantly inhibit advantages of the present invention. A ratio of Si to SiC (Si/SiC) in the Si-SiC composite material is not specifically limited, and may be the same as or similar to a ratio (Si/SiC) in a known Si-SiC composite material for use in a base material of an exhaust gas purification catalyst.

The base material <NUM> may have a S or similar to that of a known exhaust gas purification catalyst. For example, the base material <NUM> may be a straight-flow or wall-flow honeycomb base material that is generally used in an exhaust gas purification catalyst.

In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the base material <NUM> has a cylindrical outer shape. The outer shape of the base material <NUM> is not limited to this example, and may be an oval cylindrical shape or a polygonal cylindrical shape, for example. Dimensions of the base material <NUM> are not specifically limited, and may be the same as or similar to those of a known exhaust gas purification catalyst used as an electrically heated catalyst.

Arrows in <FIG> represent a flow direction of an exhaust gas. The base material <NUM> includes a plurality of cells <NUM> whose both ends at an exhaust gas inflow side and an exhaust gas outflow side are open, and partitions <NUM> partitioning adjacent ones of the cells <NUM>. The shape of each cell <NUM> is not specifically limited, and may be a quadrangle such as a square, a parallelogram, a rectangle, or a trapezoid; another polygonal shape such as a triangle, a hexagon, or an octagon; or a circle, for example. In the exhaust gas purification catalyst <NUM> including the illustrated base material <NUM>, an exhaust gas that has flowed into the cells <NUM> from the end at the exhaust gas inflow side passes through the cells <NUM> and flows out from the end at the exhaust gas outflow side.

A catalyst layer <NUM> is formed in at least a portion of the base material <NUM>. Although not shown in <FIG>, the catalyst layer <NUM> is formed in the cells <NUM>.

The catalyst layer <NUM> contains a platinum-group metal as a catalyst component. Specifically, the catalyst layer <NUM> contains at least one metal selected from the group consisting of platinum (Pt), rhodium (Rh), palladium (Pd), ruthenium (Ru), osmium (Os), and iridium (Ir). Here, Pd and Pt have high purification performance (performance in oxidation purification) of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC), and Rh has high purification performance (performance in reduction purification) of NOx. Thus, from the viewpoint of high purification performance, the platinum-group metal contained in the catalyst layer <NUM> is preferably at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Rh, and Pd. In a case where the platinum-group catalyst is Pd, Si, which causes degradation of oxygen storage capacity, is more easily diffused in the catalyst layer. Thus, because of more enhanced high-temperature durability of oxygen storage capacity, Pd is more preferable as the platinum-group metal.

From the viewpoint of increasing a contact surface area with an exhaust gas, the platinum-group metal is preferably fine particles. Specifically, the platinum-group metal has an average particle diameter of preferably <NUM> or less, more preferably <NUM> or less, further preferably <NUM> or less, and most preferably <NUM> or less. The average particle diameter of the platinum-group metal is preferably <NUM> or more. It should be noted that the average particle diameter of the platinum-group metal can be determined by acquiring an electron microscopic image (e.g., TEM image) of the platinum-group metal and calculating an average value of particle diameters of <NUM> or more particles selected randomly in the image.

The catalyst layer contains an oxygen storage material (so-called "OSC material"). The OSC material can function as a promoter of exhaust gas purification. As the OSC material, a compound known to have oxygen storage capacity may be used, and examples of the known compoud include ceria (CeO<NUM>) and a composite oxide including ceria. Examples of the composite oxide including ceria include composite oxide (ceria-zirconia composite oxide, i.e., a CZ composite oxide or ZC composite oxide) including ceria and zirconia (ZrO<NUM>). In a case where the OSC material contains zirconium oxide, thermal degradation of cerium oxide can be suppressed. Thus, the OSC material is preferably ceria-zirconia composite oxide.

The OSC material may contain an oxide of a rare-earth element in order to enhance properties (especially heat resistance and oxygen storage/release property, for example). Examples of the rare-earth element include Sc, Y, La, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu.

In a case where the OSC material is a composite oxide including cerium oxide, from the viewpoint of sufficiently exhibiting oxygen storage capacity thereof, the content of cerium oxide is preferably <NUM> mass% or more, and more preferably <NUM> mass% or more. On the other hand, if the content of cerium oxide is excessively high, basicity of the OSC material might be excessively high. For this reason, the content of cerium oxide is preferably <NUM> mass% or less, and more preferably <NUM> mass% or less.

The OSC material can also function as a carrier of a catalyst, and the like. Thus, in the catalyst layer <NUM>, the platinum-group catalyst is typically supported by the OSC material. Alternatively, the catalyst layer <NUM> may further contain, as a carrier, an oxide (preferably alumina) other than the OSC material, such as alumina (Al<NUM>O<NUM>), titania (TiO<NUM>), zirconia (ZrO<NUM>), or silica (SiO<NUM>). The platinum-group catalyst may be supported by this oxide carrier or may be supported by both the OSC material and this oxide carrier. To increase heat resistance, for example, the oxide carrier other than the OSC material may be supplemented with a small amount (e.g., <NUM> mass% or more and <NUM> mass% or less) of an oxide of a rare-earth element such as Pr<NUM>O , Nd<NUM>O , La<NUM>O<NUM>, or Y<NUM>O<NUM>.

The catalyst layer <NUM> contains a barium component. Since the catalyst layer <NUM> contains the barium component, poisoning of the platinum-group metal by hydrocarbon (HC) can be suppressed. In a case where the platinum-group metal is Pd, the barium component can suppress sintering of Pd.

The barium component is at least one selected from the group consisting of barium and a barium compound. Examples of the barium compound include barium sulfate, barium acetate, barium nitrate, and barium carbonate. Among these compounds, barium sulfate and barium acetate are preferable, and barium sulfate is more preferable.

In general, to highly disperse a barium component in a catalyst layer, the average particle size of the barium component is preferably as small as possible. Particularly, when the barium component has an average particle size of several nanometers (especially about <NUM>), the barium component has significantly high dispersibility.

However, in this embodiment, the barium component has an average particle size of <NUM> or more and <NUM> or less. By allowing the average particle size of the barium component to be significantly larger than about <NUM>, contact between a Ba element included in the catalyst layer <NUM> and Si included in the base material <NUM> can be reduced, and by allowing the average particle size of the Ba element to be in the range from <NUM> to <NUM> (both inclusive), the Ba element exists in a dispersed state in the catalyst layer <NUM> together with the platinum-group catalyst. Thus, by setting the average particle size of the barium component within this range, diffusion of Si into the catalyst layer <NUM> can be suppressed by the Ba element. Accordingly, deterioration of the OSC material by Si can be suppressed, resulting in enhancement of high-temperature durability of the OSC. From the viewpoint of more excellent high-temperature durability of the OSC, the average particle size of the barium component is preferably <NUM> or more and <NUM> or less, and more preferably <NUM> or more and <NUM> or less. When the average particle size of the barium component is <NUM> or more, Si-SiC base material <NUM> is less likely to be damaged, and high NOx purification performance can also be obtained.

It should be noted that the average particle size of the barium component can be, for example, determined as follows. First, a portion of the catalyst layer <NUM> is collected as a sample from the exhaust gas purification catalyst <NUM>. Next, an electron microscopic image of this sample is acquired using an electron microscope (e.g., scanning electron microscope (SEM) or transmission electron microscope (TEM)). Then, <NUM> or more particles each of which is entirely seen are selected from particles of the barium component appearing in the electron microscopic image, and the area of each selected particle is obtained. Diameters of circles each having an area equal to the area of each selected particle are calculated, and an arithmetic mean of these diameters is obtained. This arithmetic mean is defined as an average particle size.

It should be noted that the average particle size of the barium component can be adjusted in a method for producing a catalyst layer using slurry containing a barium source, by controlling an average particle size of the barium source, for example.

The barium component is present at least on the surface of the OSC material. The barium component is typically supported by the OSC material. Alternatively, the catalyst layer <NUM> may further contain the above-described oxide carrier other than the OSC material, and the barium component may be supported by both the OSC material and this oxide carrier. In this case, <NUM> mass% or more, <NUM> mass% or more, or <NUM> mass% or more of the barium component is supported by the OSC material, for example.

A dispersion state of the barium component in the catalyst layer <NUM> is not specifically limited. Typically, since the catalyst layer <NUM> is formed using a slurry in which a platinum-group catalyst source, a barium source, an OSC material, and an optional oxide carrier are mixed, barium component is uniformly dispersed in the catalyst layer <NUM>.

The content of the barium component in the catalyst layer <NUM> is not specifically limited. Preferably, a ratio of the mass of the barium component converted in terms of sulfate to the mass of the platinum-group element is <NUM>/<NUM> or more and <NUM> or less.

The catalyst layer <NUM> may further contain components (e.g., a binder and/or an additive) not described above. Examples of the binder include alumina sol and silica sol. Examples of the additive include a NOx adsorbent and a stabilizer.

The content of the platinum-group metal in the catalyst layer <NUM> is not specifically limited. For example, the content of the platinum-group metal in the catalyst layer <NUM> is <NUM> mass% or more and <NUM> mass% or less or <NUM> mass% or more and <NUM> mass% or less with respect to the total mass of the OSC material and the oxide carrier other than the OSC material, included in the catalyst layer <NUM>.

Dimensions of the catalyst layer <NUM> are not specifically limited, and may be appropriately determined in accordance with, for example, the size of the cells <NUM> of the base material <NUM> and the flow rate of an exhaust gas supplied to the exhaust gas purification catalyst <NUM>. The thickness of the catalyst layer <NUM> may be <NUM> pm or more and <NUM> pm or less or may be <NUM> pm or more and <NUM> pm or less.

The catalyst layer <NUM> may be formed only on a portion of the surface of the base material <NUM>. For example, the catalyst layer <NUM> may be formed only on a front portion of the base material <NUM> (e.g., only on a region up to <NUM>% from the end of the base material <NUM> at the exhaust gas inflow side in the flow direction of an exhaust gas) or only on a rear portion of the base material <NUM> (e.g., only on a region up to <NUM>% from the end of the base material <NUM> at the exhaust gas outflow side in the flow direction of the exhaust gas). The catalyst layer <NUM> may have a uniform composition in the entire layer, or may have different compositions within the range of this embodiment. For example, in the catalyst layer <NUM>, the front portion and the rear portion of the base material <NUM> may contain different platinum-group catalysts.

The exhaust gas purification catalyst <NUM> may include an element other than the base material <NUM> and the catalyst layer <NUM>.

In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the exhaust gas purification catalyst <NUM> is configured as an electrically heated catalyst. Thus, the exhaust gas purification catalyst <NUM> further includes an electrode <NUM> in addition to the base material <NUM> and the catalyst layer <NUM>. The electrode <NUM> may be the same as or similar to an electrode included in a known electrically heated catalyst, and the electrode <NUM> may be a metal electrode or a carbon electrode, for example. In the illustrated example, the electrode <NUM> includes an electrode layer <NUM> disposed on the outer surface of the base material <NUM> and an electrode terminal <NUM>. The electrode layer <NUM> has the function of diffusing a current. However, the configuration of the electrode <NUM> is not limited to this example as long as the base material <NUM> can be electrified.

<FIG> illustrates another example of the exhaust gas purification catalyst according to this embodiment. An exhaust gas purification catalyst <NUM>' illustrated in <FIG> further includes a second catalyst layer <NUM> in addition to the first catalyst layer <NUM>. The first catalyst layer <NUM> has a structure same as the structure described above. The second catalyst layer <NUM> includes a catalyst. The type of the catalyst included in the second catalyst layer <NUM> is not specifically limited. Here, when the second catalyst layer <NUM> contains, as a catalyst, a platinum-group element different from the platinum-group element contained in the first catalyst layer <NUM>. exhaust gas purification performance of the exhaust gas purification catalyst <NUM> can be thereby enhanced. The second catalyst layer <NUM> may contain an oxide carrier, an OSC material for supporting a catalyst, and the like. The second catalyst layer <NUM> may contain Ba or may not contain Ba. In the case where the second catalyst layer <NUM> contains Ba particles, the average particle size of the Ba particles is not specifically limited, and may be less than <NUM>, may exceed <NUM>, or may be within the range from <NUM> or more and <NUM> or less.

As an example of the exhaust gas purification catalyst <NUM>', the first catalyst layer <NUM> contains Pd, an oxide carrier (e.g., alumina) supporting Pd, Ba having an average particle size of <NUM> or more and <NUM> or less, and an OSC material (e.g., CZ composite material) supporting Ba. On the other hand, the second catalyst layer <NUM> contains Rh, an oxide carrier (e.g., alumina) supporting Rh, and an OSC material (e.g., CZ composite material).

The exhaust gas purification catalyst <NUM> can be, for example, produced as follows. First, a base material <NUM> containing a Si-SiC composite material is prepared. Constituents of a catalyst layer <NUM>, for example, a platinum-group metal source such as a solution containing ions of a platinum-group metal, an OSC material, a Ba source (e.g., barium sulfate or barium acetate), and a dispersion medium are mixed, thereby preparing slurry for forming the catalyst layer <NUM>. This slurry is applied into cells <NUM> of the base material <NUM>, is dried, and when necessary, is fired. Thereby, the catalyst layer <NUM> is formed on the base material <NUM>. Thereafter, the electrode <NUM> is attached in accordance with a conventional method.

The exhaust gas purification catalyst <NUM> can be used for exhaust gas purification of an internal combustion engine according to a known method. Specifically, for example, the exhaust gas purification catalyst <NUM> is disposed and used in an exhaust system (especially an exhaust pipe) of an automobile engine. Here, the exhaust gas purification catalyst <NUM> is configured as an EHC. In this case, the exhaust gas purification catalyst <NUM> is electrically connected to an automobile such that electricity is supplied from, for example, a battery of the automobile. The internal combustion engine is, for example, a gasoline engine or a diesel engine, and is preferably a gasoline engine.

Deterioration of oxygen storage capacity of the exhaust gas purification catalyst <NUM> when exposed to high temperatures (e.g., <NUM> or <NUM>) for a long time is suppressed. Thus, the exhaust gas purification catalyst <NUM> has excellent high-temperature durability of oxygen storage capacity.

The example in which the exhaust gas purification catalyst according to this embodiment is configured as an electrically heated catalyst has been described above. Alternatively, the exhaust gas purification catalyst according to this embodiment may also be used as a fine particle collecting filter such as a gasoline particulate filter (GPF) or a diesel particulate filter (DPF). In reproducing a fine particle collecting filter, the catalyst is heated to burn fine particles. Thus, in the case of using the catalyst as the fine particle collecting filter, degradation of oxygen storage capacity in this heating can be suppressed.

The present invention will now be described in further detail below with reference to examples, but it is not intended to limit the invention to these examples.

As a base material, a honeycomb base material of a Si-SiC composite material (volume: <NUM>, the number of cells: <NUM> cpsi, partition thickness: <NUM> mil, cell shape: quadrangle, and base material length: <NUM>) was prepared. A palladium nitrate solution, La<NUM>O<NUM>-modified Al<NUM>O<NUM> powder, CZ composite oxide powder supplemented with minute amounts of Pr<NUM>O<NUM>, Nd<NUM>O , La<NUM>O<NUM>, and Y<NUM>O<NUM>, barium sulfate having an average particle size of <NUM>, a Al<NUM>O<NUM>-based binder, and ion-exchanged water were mixed, thereby preparing Pd-containing slurry. The Pd-containing slurry was poured into the base material, and an unnecessary portion of the slurry was blown out by a blower, thereby coating a wall surface of the base material with the slurry. Next, the base material was placed in a drier at <NUM> and dried for two hours. Thereafter, the base material was fired at <NUM> for two hours in an electric heating furnace, thereby forming a Pd catalyst layer as a first catalyst layer.

A rhodium nitrate solution, La<NUM>O<NUM>-modified Al<NUM>O<NUM> powder, CZ composite oxide powder supplemented with minute amounts of Pr<NUM>O<NUM>, Nd<NUM>O , La<NUM>O<NUM>, and Y<NUM>O<NUM>, an Al<NUM>O<NUM>-based binder, and ion-exchanged water were mixed, thereby preparing Rh-containing slurry. This Rh-containing slurry was poured onto the base material on which the Pd catalyst layer had been formed, and an unnecessary portion of the slurry was blown out by a blower, thereby coating a wall surface of the base material on which the Pd catalyst layer had been formed with the slurry. Next, the base material was placed in a drier at <NUM> and dried for two hours. Thereafter, the base material was fired at <NUM> for two hours in an electric heating furnace, thereby forming a Rh catalyst layer, as a second catalyst layer, on the Pd catalyst layer.

In the manner described above, an exhaust gas purification catalyst according to Example <NUM> in which the Pd catalyst layer and the Rh catalyst layer were sequentially stacked on the base material was obtained. In the exhaust gas purification catalyst, a supported amount of Pd was <NUM>/L, and a supported amount of Rh was <NUM>/L.

Exhaust gas purification catalysts were produced in a manner similar to Example <NUM> except for using compounds having average particle sizes shown in the table below as barium components. It should be noted that an average particle size of barium sulfate having an average particle size of <NUM> or more was adjusted by wet grinding. For barium sulfate having an average particle size of <NUM>, water-soluble Ba was used for preparing slurry.

As a base material, a honeycomb base material of cordierite (volume: <NUM>, the number of cells: <NUM> cpsi, partition thickness: <NUM> mil, cell shape: quadrangle, and base material length: <NUM>) was prepared. Exhaust gas purification catalysts were produced in a manner similar to Example <NUM> except for using this cordierite base material and using compounds having average particle sizes shown in the table below as a barium component.

It should be noted that the average particle size of barium acetate used was evaluated with a TEM, and the average particle size of barium sulfate used was evaluated with FE-SEM and laser diffraction particle size distribution analyzer. In addition, a portion of a catalyst layer of the exhaust gas purification catalyst produced above was taken as a sample, and an SEM image of the sample was acquired with a FE-SEM, and an average particle size was determined as an average value of particle sizes of <NUM> particles in the SEM image. Then, it was confirmed that the determined average particle size was equal to the average particle size of barium acetate used and barium sulfate used.

An exhaust system of a V-type <NUM>-cylinder gasoline engine placed on a base was equipped with exhaust gas purification catalysts of the examples, the comparative examples, and the reference examples and subjected to a durability test for <NUM> hours at a catalyst bed temperature of <NUM> under a condition including a predetermined fuel cut,.

An exhaust system of a gasoline engine placed on a base was equipped with the exhaust gas purification catalysts of the examples, the comparative examples, and the reference examples which had been subjected to the durability test described above. An O<NUM> sensor was disposed downstream of the catalysts. An air-fuel ratio A/F of a gas mixture to be supplied to the engine was switched repeatedly between rich and lean in a square-wave manner. A sum of an oxygen release amount and an oxygen absorption amount at this time was integrated, and an OSC was calculated. <FIG> shows results.

The exhaust gas purification catalysts of the examples, the comparative examples, and the reference examples were disposed in an exhaust system of an engine bench, and a combustion state of the engine was controlled based on a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. The temperature of an inflow gas into each catalyst was increased from <NUM> to <NUM> at a temperature rise speed of <NUM>/min. by using a heat exchanger. An intake air amount of the engine was <NUM>/sec. Gas components of an inflow gas into the catalyst and an outflow gas from the catalyst during the temperature rise were analyzed, and a temperature at which <NUM>% of a NOx component could be purified (<NUM>% purification temperature of NOx component: T50-NOx) was calculated. <FIG> shows results.

As shown in the results of <FIG>, in the case of using the cordierite base material (e.g., base material different from a Si-SiC base material), as the average particle size of the barium component decreased, high-temperature durability of oxygen storage capacity increased. This is because as the average particle size of the barium component decreases, the barium component is more highly dispersed, and the effect of suppressing poisoning of the platinum-group catalyst by HC is enhanced.

On the other hand, it can be found that in the case of using the Si-SiC base material, a behavior of high-temperature durability of oxygen storage capacity is different. Specifically, the durability of oxygen storage capacity was high in the range where the average particle size of the barium component is <NUM> or more and <NUM> or less. This is because in the case of using the Si-SiC base material, by significantly increasing the average particle size of the barium component, contact between Ba included in the catalyst layer and Si included in the base material can be reduced, whereas by setting the average particle size within an appropriate range, the Ba element can be present in a dispersed state in the catalyst layer together with the platinum-group catalyst.

From the results of <FIG>, in the case of using the cordierite base material, as the average particle size of the barium component decreased, NOx purification performance increased.

On the other hand, in the case of using the Si-SiC base material, purification performance of NOx was high in the range in which the average particle size of the barium component was <NUM> or more and <NUM> or less. In particular, if the average particle size was less than <NUM>, degradation of NOx purification performance due to deterioration of the OSC material was remarkable. This is because when the average particle size of the barium component is excessively small, the Si-SiC base material is damaged, and an electrification property and a uniform heating property of the base material degrade.

In the manner described above, the exhaust gas purification catalyst disclosed here has excellent high-temperature durability of oxygen storage capacity although the Si-SiC composite material is used in the base material and the barium component is used in the catalyst layer.

Claim 1:
An exhaust gas purification catalyst (<NUM>) comprising:
a base material (<NUM>); and
a catalyst layer (<NUM>) in contact with the base material (<NUM>), wherein
the base material (<NUM>) contains a silicon-silicon carbide composite material,
the catalyst layer (<NUM>) includes a platinum-group catalyst, a barium component, and an oxygen storage material,
the barium component is at least one material selected from the group consisting of barium and a barium compound,
the barium component is present at least on a surface of the oxygen storage material, and
the barium component has an average particle size of <NUM> or more and <NUM> or less.