Friday, June 17, 2011

New Understanding of Platinum Catalyst





This is also a great start in understanding why platinum acts as a catalyst in many chemical processes.  First, it is all about the hydrogen.  Free hydrogen is linked into a single layer at the surface of the platinum providing an reaction surface that also repels water and allowing other molecules preferential treatment.  It is a little like plucking the molecules out of solution and fitting them together to react.  At least that is a great starting point in terms of understanding all catalytic reactions and should be used.

This is actually important science that will quickly shape research in chemistry in general.

More immediate, we can plausibly isolate alternative potential catalysts that are much cheaper.



Finding answers century-old questions about platinum's catalytic properties

by Staff Writers

Kingston, Canada (SPX) Jun 15, 2011

Gregory Jerkiewicz's research has answered some questions about platinum's catalytic properties that have puzzled scientists for nearly 100 years.



Researchers now understand more about why platinum is so efficient at producing power in hydrogen fuel cells.

"Understanding platinum's properties for speeding up chemical reactions will potentially enable scientists to create significantly cheaper synthetic or metal alloy alternatives for use in sustainable devices like fuel cells," says Gregory Jerkiewicz, a professor in the Department of Chemistry who led the groundbreaking study.

Dr. Jerkiewicz's research team has found that when platinum is used in reactions involving hydrogen it develops an embedded layer of hydrogen just one atom thick.

This gives the platinum hydrophobic or water-repelling qualities, meaning that stray water molecules inside the fuel cell cannot bond strongly with the surface of the platinum.

The water-repelling nature of the modified platinum means that incoming hydrogen molecules can easily attach to the surface of the platinum and separate into smaller particles without requiring additional energy to displace any water molecules that are in the way.

The reduction in the energy required for hydrogen molecules to attach to the surface of the platinum means that the process is fast and efficient and the fuel cell can deliver a lot of power

1 comment:

  1. The water-repelling nature of the modified platinum means that incoming hydrogen molecules can easily attach to the surface of the platinum and separate into smaller particles without requiring additional energy to displace any water molecules that are in the way.

    This makes no sense to me. What particles, other than hydrogen atoms, are smaller than hydrogen molecules? This statement requires a lot more explanation if the author wishes to not be dismissed as another kook by me, and I suspect by many other people with a smart laymans knowledge of chemistry

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