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The capability of theoretical durability studies to offer an efficient alternative methodology for predicting the potential performance of catalysts has improved in recent years. In this regard, multi-scale theoretical methods for predicting sintering behavior of Pt on various catalyst supports are being developed. Various types of Pt diffusions depending on support were confirmed by the micro-scale ultra accelerated quantum chemical molecular dynamics (UA-QCMD) method. Moreover, macro-scale sintering behavior of Pt/ɣ-Al2O3, Pt/ZrO2 and Pt/CeO2 catalyst were studied using a developed 3D sintering simulator. Experimental results were well reproduced. While Pt on ɣ-Al2O3 sintered significantly, Pt on ZrO2 sintered slightly and Pt on CeO2 demonstrated the highest stability against sintering.

Suppression or reduction of soot emissions is an important goal in the development of automotive engines for environmental and human health purposes. A better understanding at the molecular level of the formation process of soot particles resulting from collision and aggregation of smaller particles made of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) is needed. In addition to experiments, computational methods are efficient and valuable tools for this purpose. As a first step in our detailed computational chemistry study, we applied Ultra-Accelerated Molecular Dynamics (UAQCMD) and Canonical Monte-Carlo (CMC) methods to investigate the nucleation process. The UA-QCMD can calculate chemical reaction dynamics 107 times faster than conventional first principle molecular dynamics methods, while CMC can calculate equilibrium properties at various temperatures, pressures, and chemical compositions.