Nissan has developed a platinum catalyst for use in gasoline-fuelled cars, which uses half the precious metals of existing technology, offering considerable cost savings.

The Japanese marque has been able to cut the use of platinum group metals (pgms) through employing nanotechnology in the manufacture of the catalyst, which the researchers have found prevents particles of fine metal from clustering.

As a result, half the material is needed to ensure that exhaust emissions are clean, with no impairment to the catalyst's performance.

The new technology will be shared with Renault and will be introduced on a single car initially before being rolled out in the rest of the fleet from the fiscal year 2008.

News of the new catalyst comes as average platinum prices during April-June have risen 9 per cent from the year ago period.

Meanwhile, prices of rhodium and palladium are up 24 per cent and 6 per cent respectively.

Sources:

Nissan develops catalyst to halve precious metal use, 26/07/07
http://www.reuters.com/article/tnBasicIndustries-SP/idUST30414520070727

NISSAN HALVES UTILIZATION OF PRECIOUS METALS IN NEWLY DEVELOPED CATALYST, 27/07/07
http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/NEWS/2007/_STORY/070727-01-e.html

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