2. After-treatment of pollutant emissions: technical notions on automotive catalysis

The following paragraphs aim to inform the reader about the various catalytic aftertreatment strategies that exist or are under development. The fundamental role played by chemistry will be illustrated through the catalytic mechanisms involved in the reduction of polluting molecules, as well as in the chemical formulation of catalysts; this "organic" aspect of after-treatment is the subject of in-depth development at the highest level of the most advanced materials technologies. The functional analysis proposed as a preamble to each catalytic technology aims to illustrate the link between application needs and the chemical nature of the materials used.