Catalytic Metal Alloys - Isis Project No 8220
Method to create enhanced metal catalytic alloys by optimising the surface composition by gaseous exposure, producing cost savings for energy and other industrial markets.
Exposure
Oxford researchers have developed a method to control the surface chemical composition of catalyst nanoalloys and nanoparticles. By exposing catalytic surfaces to a combination of oxidising and reducing conditions at specific temperatures, they found significant changes to the surface and bulk atomic structure and chemistry. Investigations have resulted in the ability to control the amount of critical noble metal alloy (platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium) on the surface, without having to increase the bulk concentration of these expensive materials.
The researchers used a Cameca LEAP 3000X-HR™ Atom Probe to accurately and quickly analyse their samples, enabling many different permutations to be investigated over a short time, using small amounts of these materials.
Global demand
In order to reduce levels of air pollutants from internal combustion engines, catalytic converters are used. Platinum, rhodium and palladium are the three active constituents used the most due to their superior reactivity, thermal stability and resistance to poisoning. Prices of these have doubled over the last three years, leading to market pressure to reduce the usage of these materials.
Similar requirements to reduce the metal content of alloys while maintaining an active, stable and engineered surface apply to the processing of hydrocarbons and the reforming and cracking of petroleum fractions.
There is also a rapidly growing market in the fuel cells sector. Here, catalytic nanoparticles are designed to be rough and porous to maximise the surface area exposed to the hydrogen or oxygen, making fuel cells more efficient.
Cost saving benefit
Current methods of producing catalysts in these important sectors offer limited control over the final surface structure. This has made it difficult to reduce the noble metal content.
The Oxford methodology enables the ‘engineering’ of the surface structure of catalyst nanoparticles to maximise the presence of the expensive metals at the active surface: this leads to cost savings.
Patent protection
This methodology is now the subject of
a patent application, and Isis would like
to discuss the licensing of the technology
with interested companies. Please contact the Technology Transfer Manager by using the link below.
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