Electrochemical activation of Pt–Ba/YSZ NOxTRAP catalyst under lean-burn conditions

Abstract The NO x abatement efficiency of an electrochemical NO x TRAP catalyst Pt–Ba/YSZ was investigated at 500 °C with different oxygen partial pressures in the storage phase. Cathodic polarization was found to promote the NO x storage capacity even under lean-burn conditions. The duration until full NO x storage was drastically increased by ~ 80 s in the presence of 6% of oxygen. During regeneration phases, NO electrochemical reduction occurs and can remove ~ 10% of NO x . Electrochemical activation of the NO x storage capacity was linked with the generation of oxygen vacancies on the YSZ surface induced by negative polarization.