Umicore

About: Umicore is a company organization based out in Brussels, Belgium. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Catalysis & Exhaust gas. The organization has 1253 authors who have published 1516 publications receiving 23358 citations. The organization is also known as: Union Miniere.

Exhaust gas cleaning system for treating motor exhaust gases with an SCR catalytic converter

Abstract: Treating diesel motor exhaust gas containing nitric oxide and hydrocarbons, comprises: (a) adding ammonia or a compound that can be decomposed to ammonia in the exhaust gas stream containing nitric oxide and hydrocarbons; (b) leading over e.g. nitric oxide or an exhaust stream containing the compound over a first inflow side arranged selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst, and at least partially oxidizing hydrocarbons contained in the exhaust gas; and (c) leading over exhaust gas resulting from step (b) over a second, downstream arranged SCR catalyst, and storing the excessive ammonia. Treating diesel motor exhaust gas containing nitric oxide and hydrocarbons, comprises: (a) adding ammonia or a compound that can be decomposed to ammonia from a source that does not belong to the exhaust gas system in the exhaust gas stream containing nitric oxide and hydrocarbons; (b) leading over the nitric oxide, hydrocarbons and ammonia, or an exhaust gas stream containing the compound over a first inflow side arranged SCR catalyst, which catalyzes the comproportionation of the nitric oxide with ammonia at 300-500[deg] C, and simultaneously at least partially oxidizing hydrocarbons contained in the exhaust gas; and (c) leading over the exhaust gas resulting from the step (b) over a second, downstream arranged SCR catalyst, which catalyzes the comproportionation of the nitric oxide with ammonia at 150-400[deg] C, and simultaneously storing the excessive ammonia. An independent claim is included for an exhaust gas purification device for reducing nitric oxide in the meager exhaust gas from combustion engines, comprising a device (1) for the addition of ammonia or the compound in the nitric oxide containing exhaust gas stream from a source (2) that does not belong to the exhaust gas system, and the source for ammonia or the compound, a first SCR catalyst (3) and neither vanadium- nor zeolite-compounds, and a second, vanadium-free SCR catalyst (4) and a copper replaced zeolite compound.

The Next Generation of Germanium Substrates: ExpogerTM

Abstract: Umicore has been the leading Germanium substrate manufacturer over the last 20 years. We are only able to maintain that position by constantly improving the quality of our product. In this work, Umicore wants to present how it will continue this tradition by adding even more value to its product.In the beginning of 2014 we proposed to our customers to help them in achieving their yield improvement goals. Two main concerns were expressed: the breakage rate in their production line and non-uniform epi-growth. After two years of development, Umicore has bundled these two improvements into a new product. The ExpoGerTM wafer combines a better mechanical yield with a uniform, epi-ready surface enabling a narrower distribution of the electrical performance.The breakage rate of the customers is related to the wafers that suffer from early failure. The percentage of early failures is related to its thickness. With the trend towards even thinner substrates, it is important to add features that reduce the percentage of early failures. Two features are crucial: the shape of the substrate edge and the stress relief etch, which influences the wafer strength.Just as for the strength, two distinctive aspects define the surface quality. On the one hand, there are the number and size of surface defects, which have an important influence on the metal-organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD) growth performed at Umicore’s customers. On the other hand, drying marks, which are invisible to the naked eye, may lead to a local, non-uniform growth and they can be a precursor to time dependent haze issues.Umicore is able to demonstrate the impact of the ExpoGerTM processes on the strength and surface quality of its wafers and thus on the production yield of its customers.

Catalyst useful for removing nitrogen oxide from an exhaust gas of diesel engine comprises a carrier body of length (L) and a catalytically active coating made of at least one material zone

Abstract: Catalyst comprises a carrier body of length (L) and a catalytically active coating (3) made of at least one material zone (3a, 3b) comprising (i) at least one of (a) zeolite containing copper, iron and/or silver, (b) titanium dioxide, zirconium oxide, vanadium oxide, tungsten oxide and/or silicon dioxide, (c) cerium oxide, zirconium oxide, neodymium oxide, tungsten oxide, iron oxide, lanthanum oxide, praseodymium oxide and/or aluminum oxide, or (d) mixtures of (a), (b) and/or (c), and (ii) at least one of e.g. barium oxide, barium hydroxide, barium carbonate or strontium oxide. Catalyst comprises a carrier body of length (L) and a catalytically active coating (3) made of at least one material zone (3a, 3b) comprising (i) at least one of (a) zeolite containing 1-10 wt.% of copper, iron and/or silver, based on the total weight of the zeolite, where the zeolite comprises zeolite beta , mordenite (MOR), ultrastable Y (USY), zeolite Socony Mobil-5 (ZSM-5), ferrierite (FER) and/or chabazite (CHA), (b) titanium dioxide, zirconium oxide, vanadium oxide, tungsten oxide and/or silicon dioxide, (c) cerium oxide, zirconium oxide, neodymium oxide, tungsten oxide, iron oxide, lanthanum oxide, praseodymium oxide and/or aluminum oxide, or (d) mixtures of (a), (b) and/or (c), and (ii) at least one of barium oxide, barium hydroxide, barium carbonate, strontium oxide, strontium hydroxide, strontium carbonate, praseodymium oxide, lanthanum oxide, cerium oxide, cerium/zirconium mixed oxide, magnesium oxide, magnesium/ aluminum mixed oxide, alkali metal oxide, alkali metal hydroxide and/or alkali metal carbonate. Independent claims are also included for: (1) removing nitrogen oxides from the exhaust gas of the diesel engine, comprising passing to be cleaned exhaust gas with an air ratio lambda , which is greater than 1, over the catalyst; and (2) a device for carrying out the above mentioned method comprising the catalyst and a selective catalytic reduction (SCR)-catalyst arranged at its outflow side.

Lithium Magnesium Tungstate Solid as an Additive into Li(Ni1/3Mn1/3Co1/3)O2 Electrodes for Li-Ion Batteries

Abstract: Addition of 1 wt% Li4MgWO6 (LMW) solid in a positive electrode is effective to improve battery performance of Li(Ni1/3Mn1/3Co1/3)O2 (NMC)//graphite lithium-ion cell. The batteries with LMW additive show better capacity retention and lower resistance than those of the additive-free batteries. To elucidate the improvement mechanism, the NMC and graphite electrodes after long-term cycle are examined by means of electrochemical tests in Li half-cells, electron microscopy, synchrotron X-ray diffraction, and photoelectron spectroscopy. The results reveal that the addition of LMW suppresses imbalanced state of charge (SOC) between the positive and negative electrodes during cycles whereas evident imbalanced SOC causes the capacity degradation during long cycling under the LMW-free condition. The imbalanced SOC results in overcharge of NMC which is proved by formation of severe micro-cracks in NMC particles. Crystallinity of LMW added in the positive composite electrode is lost after 2000 cycles and tungsten is detected on the graphite electrode, which suggests that the additive is gradually dissolved in electrolyte and tungsten is deposited on the graphite. Because of the formation of surface layer containing tungsten ingredient on the graphite, irreversible side-reactions on the graphite electrode should be suppressed, which contributes to successfully suppress the SOC-unbalancing as well as capacity fading.