On the Importance of Ozone Decomposition Catalysts in Fighter Jet

"When Pakistani fighter jets cut through the sky and shot down the Indian MiG-21, the technological code of modern fighter jets was revealed - from the surging power of turbofan engines to the ozone protection of nanocatalysts, these steel eagles are the perfect crystallization of materials science and aerospace engineering."
In recent years, the international situation has been changing, and military conflicts have occurred from time to time, among which the competition of air power is particularly eye-catching. The case of Pakistan shooting down the Indian MiG-21 fighter in 2019 once again highlighted the key role of modern fighter jets in national defense and security. This incident not only attracted the attention of the international community to the situation in South Asia, but also made people more curious: How are these steel eagles soaring in the blue sky made? What are the scientific principles behind them?
Modern fighter jets are a highly complex system engineering, mainly composed of the following core parts: first, the power system, which usually uses a turbofan engine or a turbojet engine, which produces high-temperature and high-pressure gas by inhaling air, compressing and burning, driving the turbine to rotate and generate powerful thrust; second, the avionics system, including radar, fire control computer, electronic countermeasure equipment, etc., which can be called the "brain" of the fighter jet; third, the weapon system, equipped with various air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles and aircraft guns; finally, the fuselage structure, which uses advanced composite materials to reduce weight while ensuring structural strength. These systems work together to enable fighter jets to complete complex tactical actions such as supersonic cruise and high-maneuverability combat.
In the high-altitude flight environment of fighter jets, the protection of the ozone layer is particularly important. In modern aviation technology, ozone decomposition catalysts play an irreplaceable role. This type of catalyst is mainly used in aircraft environmental control systems to decompose high-concentration ozone into harmless oxygen through catalytic oxidation reactions. Its core mechanism is to use transition metal oxides as active components to achieve efficient conversion within the operating temperature range of 150-300℃. In the aviation field, ozone catalysts need to meet stringent performance requirements: high conversion efficiency (usually >95%), excellent thermal stability, long service life (up to tens of thousands of hours) and good anti-poisoning ability.
From the perspective of materials science, aviation ozone decomposition catalysts mostly use honeycomb ceramics or metal carrier-loaded catalysts, which have the characteristics of low pressure drop and large specific surface area. The active components of the catalyst usually select precious metals (such as platinum, palladium) or transition metal oxides (such as manganese, copper oxides), and their dispersion and stability are ensured through special preparation processes. During the cruising phase of the aircraft, these catalysts can effectively protect passengers and crew members from the harm of high-altitude ozone, while extending the service life of onboard electronic equipment.
With the development of the aviation industry, new catalyst materials continue to emerge. Nanostructured catalysts have attracted much attention due to their higher specific surface area and more active sites; molecular sieve-based catalysts have unique advantages due to their regular pore structure and adjustable acidity. In the future, with the deepening of the understanding of high-altitude environment and the progress of material science, aviation ozone catalysts will surely move towards

author: Hazel

date:2025-05-14