Catalytic coatings on stainless steel prepared by sol–gel route

Stainless steel (flat and microstructured) substrates have been coated with sol–gel catalysts made up of metal nanoparticles (Rh, Ni, Pt) dispersed on alumina and alumina–ceria supports. The aluminum monohydroxyde (boehmite) sols were synthesized by hot hydrolysis/peptization of an aluminum alkoxide (Yoldas method). It is shown that the rheological properties of the sol, especially the thixotropy, play a key role on the homogeneity and the quality of the film deposited on the metal substrate. The catalyst layers have a very good adhesion, a thickness which can be easily controlled (in the range 0.1 to 10 μm), a large specific surface area and a good mechanical and thermal stability.