Emission Control in Internal Combustion Engines
Summary
Internal combustion engines remain a cornerstone of global transport and power generation, yet they are also significant sources of regulated pollutants including nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO) and unburned hydrocarbons (HC). Modern strategies combine in-cylinder combustion optimisation—through techniques such as exhaust gas recirculation, direct injection and lean-burn operation—with advanced aftertreatment systems. Three-way catalytic converters, diesel particulate filters and selective catalytic reduction units transform or trap harmful species in exhaust streams, while alternative fuels and novel catalyst formulations continue to expand the toolkit for emissions mitigation. Progress in material science, computational combustion modelling and real-world testing underpins regulatory compliance and supports the transition towards lower carbon footprints without sacrificing engine performance or durability.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Emission Control in Internal Combustion Engines publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in emission control in internal combustion engines across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Nitrogen oxides (NOx): regulated pollutants comprising nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide produced during high-temperature combustion.
Particulate matter (PM): microscopic solid or liquid particles suspended in exhaust gas that pose respiratory health risks.
Selective catalytic reduction (SCR): an aftertreatment process in which a reductant reacts with NOx over a catalyst to form harmless nitrogen and water.
Lean-burn: an engine operating strategy with excess air relative to fuel, improving thermal efficiency and reducing certain emissions.
Carbonyl compounds: a class of oxygenated organic molecules (aldehydes and ketones) emitted during combustion, of concern for toxicity and ozone formation.
Nanocomposite: a material comprising nanoscale particles dispersed within a supporting matrix to enhance catalytic or adsorptive properties.
References
- Synthesis, Characterization and Application of SnO2@rGO Nanocomposite for Selective Catalytic Reduction of Exhaust Emission in Internal Combustion Engines. Catalysts (2023).
- Determination of Carbonyls Compound, Ketones and Aldehydes Emissions from CI Diesel Engines Fueled with Pure Diesel/Diesel Methanol Blends. Energies (2022).
- Effect of excess air ratio and ignition timing on performance, emission and combustion characteristics of high speed hydrogen engine. IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science (2023).
About these summaries
This Nature Research Intelligence Topic summary is created with the cited references and a large language model. We take care to ground generated text with facts, and have systems in place to gain human feedback on the overall quality of the process in line with our AI principles. We strive to create accurate and useful summaries for people unfamiliar with the research topic and that supports this goal. These pages are a beta release and will be updated as we learn how best to help people gain value from a research topic summary.
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.