Scientists home in on pairs of atoms that boost a catalyst's activity
Monday, June 22, 2020 - 16:00
in Physics & Chemistry
Replacing the expensive metals that break down exhaust gases in catalytic converters with cheaper, more effective materials is a top priority for scientists, for both economic and environmental reasons. Catalysts are required to perform chemical reactions that would otherwise not happen, such as converting polluting gases from automotive exhaust into clean compounds that can be released into the environment. To improve them, researchers need a deeper understanding of exactly how they catalysts work.