María José Illán-Gómez

In this study, we analyzed the role of a series of BaMn1−xNixO3 (x = 0, 0.2, and 0.4) mixed oxide catalysts, synthesized using the sol–gel method, in NOx-assisted diesel soot oxidation. ICP-OES, XRD, XPS, and H2-TPR techniques were used for characterization and Temperature-Programmed Reaction experiments (NOx-TPR and Soot-NOx-TPR), and isothermal reactions at 450 °C (for the most active sample) were carried out to determine the catalytic activity. All samples catalyzed NO and soot oxidation at temperatures below 400 °C, presenting nickel-containing catalysts with the highest soot conversion and selectivity to CO2. However, the nickel content did not significantly modify the catalytic performance, and in order to improve it, two catalysts (5 wt % in Ni) were synthesized via the hydrothermal method (BMN2H) and the impregnation of nickel on a BaMnO3 perovskite as support (M5). The two samples presented higher activity for NO and soot oxidation than BMN2E (obtained via the sol–gel method) as they presented more nickel on the surface (as determined via XPS). BMN2H was more active than M5 as it presented (i) more surface oxygen vacancies, which are active sites for oxidation reactions; (ii) improved redox properties; and (iii) a lower average crystal size for nickel (as NiO). As a consequence of these properties, BMN2H featured a high soot oxidation rate at 450 °C, which hindered the accumulation of soot during the reaction and, thus, the deactivation of the catalyst.