Placing atoms for optimum catalysts
Thursday, October 18, 2018 - 08:20
in Physics & Chemistry
Fuels, plastics, and other products are made using catalysts, materials that drive chemical reactions. To design a better catalyst, scientists must get the right atoms in the right spot. Positioning the atoms can be difficult, but new research makes it easier. Researchers determined the exact location of single oxygen atoms, which act like anchors for catalysts. In the case of a layer of carbon atoms atop a metal support, single oxygen atoms appear in predictable spots. Knowing where the atomic anchors are, the team can create patterns of catalytic atoms, designing what's needed to get the job done.