Mazda Motor Corporation will this week launch a new catalyst structure which has significantly reduced the amount of precious metal required for each vehicle.

At present, most catalysts take on the standard three-way form - featuring platinum, palladium and rhodium - which are exposed to gas heat, causing the metals to agglomerate into larger particles.

However, the company is set to unveil the first of its new Mazda3 petrol-powered vehicles to contain the structure at the Bologna Motor Show on 3rd December.

According to Mazda, the catalyst is made up of single, nano-sized particles in fixed positions which prevent agglomeration and can cut the volume of precious metals by 70 to 90 per cent.

The development was originally outlined last October, when Nissan also confirmed that it expected to release vehicles containing a similar structure by late 2008 or early 2009.

Indeed, Nissan has recently begun sales of its new version of the Cube, which includes an ultra-low PGM catalyst.

The new designs are particularly crucial to the industry as it continues to face tightening emissions regulations and the expected increase in production after the effects of the current global economic downturn subside.



Source:

Mazda launches three-way catalyst (30/11/08)
http://www.thegreencarwebsite.co.uk/blog/index.php/2008/11/30/mazda-launches-three-way-catalyst/

See also:

Thrifting of precious metals in autocatalysts (05/10/07)
http://www.platinum.matthey.com/media_room/11858024399050.html