Energy Researchers Invent Chameleon Metal That Acts Like Many Others

Research could improve efficiency for storing renewable energy, making carbon-free fuels, and manufacturing sustainable materials— A team of energy researchers led by the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities have invented a groundbreaking device that electronically converts one metal into behaving like another to use as a catalyst for speeding chemical reactions.

The general public is probably most familiar with this concept in relation to the uptick in thefts of catalytic converters on cars. Catalytic converters are valuable because of the rhodium and palladium inside them. In fact, palladium can be more expensive than gold. “Atoms really do not want to change their number of electrons, but we invented the catalytic condenser device that allows us to tune the number of electrons at the surface of the catalyst,” said Paul Dauenhauer, a MacArthur Fellow and professor of chemical engineering and materials science at the University of Minnesota who led the research team. “This opens up an entirely new opportunity for controlling chemistry and making abundant materials act like precious materials.

The catalytic condenser design has broad utility as a platform device for a range of manufacturing applications. This versatility comes from its nanometer fabrication that incorporates graphene as an enabling component of the active surface layer. The power of the device to stabilize electrons is tunable with varying composition of a strongly insulating internal layer.

Materials science is amazing. It really is where a lot of stuff happens that truly is indistinguishable from magic.

Al is Aluminium. Spelling mistakes made.. have we?

Could be a break through for battery production 👍

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