Friday, 18th March 2005 (2721 views)

A team of scientists has used gold in nanoparticle research to develop more efficient ways of generating hydrogen and better catalytic converters.

Researchers at the US department of energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory deposited gold on the surface of ceria nanoparticles and used x-rays at the synchrotron to determine the catalyst's "active phase" (the conformation responsible for the catalytic activity) in the conversion of water and carbon monoxide to hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide.

This water-gas shift reaction is important for generating hydrogen, which can be used for chemical transformations and as a fuel.

Scientists sponsored by the department of energy are investigating hydrogen as part of the US government's mission to secure the nation's future energy needs. The nanoparticle research was funded by the office of basic Energy sciences within the US department of energy's office of science.

Brookhaven chemist Jose Rodriguez said: "This kind of knowledge eventually will lead to a rational design of even more effective catalysts."

He added: "The ceria nanoparticles we studied have much better performance, higher chemical reactivity, than the bulk form of ceria currently used in catalytic converters."

The research holds promise for more efficient catalytic converters, more efficient ways of generating hydrogen and cleaner air.

 

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