Abstract
Structure-durability mechanism of Three-Way-Catalyst (TWC) particles membrane filter was investigated through TEM images of contact areas between two agglomerated TWC particles. After those agglomerated TWC particles were sintered at 700, 800, 900 and 1100℃, a thin sample around the contact area was cut off out using an FIB-SEM system. From the TEM image analysis, the contact area becomes larger by thermal expansion of both TWC particles with temperature. Moreover, nanometer-sized primary particulates such as alumina and ceria-zirconia which are elements of the single TWC particle cross over the apparent contact line between two agglomerated TWC particles. As a result, the percolation structure becomes stronger as the sintering temperature increases because the crossover rate increases.
