Catalyst System for an Internal Combustion Engine and Method for Producing It

Abstract

A catalyst system for an internal combustion engine with at least one cylinder and/or piston is characterized in that the catalyst is arranged in the form of nanoparticles on the cylinder and/or piston.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A catalyst system for an internal combustion engine with at least one cylinder ( 30 ) and/or piston forming a combustion space, the catalyst being arranged in the form of nanoparticles in the cylinder ( 30 ) and/or on the piston. 
     
     
         11 . The catalyst system as claimed in  claim 10 , characterized in that the nanoparticles are provided and/or arranged in nanoparticle tubes ( 20 ) which are in the approximate form of elongate tubes. 
     
     
         12 . The catalyst system as claimed in  claim 10 , characterized in that the mean diameter of the nanoparticle tubes ( 20 ) amounts to at least 5 nm and at most 100 nm. 
     
     
         13 . The catalyst system as claimed in  claim 10 , characterized in that the mean length of the nanoparticle tubes ( 20 ) amounts to at least 5 μm and at most 50 μm. 
     
     
         14 . The catalyst system as claimed in  claim 10 , characterized in that the mean distance between two adjacent nanoparticle tubes ( 20 ) amounts to at least 15 nm and at most 20 nm. 
     
     
         15 . The catalyst system as claimed in  claim 10 , characterized in that the nanoparticles consist essentially of a material selected from the group consisting essentially of Pt, Pd, Rh, Ir, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, Au, Ru, Ir, Os, Re and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The catalyst system as claimed in  claim 10 , characterized in that the nanoparticles are thermally stable in the range of at least 600° C. to at most 800° C. 
     
     
         17 . The catalyst system as claimed in  claim 10 , characterized in that the surface/volume ratio (on a nanometer scale) of the nanoparticles amounts to at least 1:1 and at most 1:5. 
     
     
         18 . The catalyst system as claimed in  claim 10 , characterized in that the nanoparticles are adapted to the surface structure of the cylinder and/or piston. 
     
     
         19 . A method for producing a catalyst system as claimed in  claim 10 , the cylinder consisting essentially of aluminum, characterized in that the nanoparticles are added during the anodizing of the aluminum and deposit themselves into the surface structure of the cylinder. 
     
     
         20 . The catalyst system as claimed in  claim 11 , characterized in that the mean diameter of the nanoparticle tubes ( 20 ) amounts to at least 5 nm and at most 100 nm. 
     
     
         21 . The catalyst system as claimed in  claim 11 , characterized in that the mean length of the nanoparticle tubes ( 20 ) amounts to at least 5 μm and at most 50 μm. 
     
     
         22 . The catalyst system as claimed in  claim 11 , characterized in that the mean distance between two adjacent nanoparticle tubes ( 20 ) amounts to at least 15 nm and at most 20 nm. 
     
     
         23 . The catalyst system as claimed in  claim 11 , characterized in that the nanoparticles consist essentially of a material selected from the group consisting essentially of Pt, Pd, Rh, Ir, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, Au, Ru, Ir, Os, Re and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         24 . The catalyst system as claimed in  claim 11 , characterized in that the nanoparticles are thermally stable in the range of at least 600° C. to at most 800° C. 
     
     
         25 . The catalyst system as claimed in  claim 11 , characterized in that the surface/volume ratio (on a nanometer scale) of the nanoparticles amounts to at least 1:1 and at most 1:5. 
     
     
         26 . The catalyst system as claimed in  claim 11 , characterized in that the nanoparticles are adapted to the surface structure of the cylinder and/or piston.