Chemists Discover How Platinum Catalysts Assemble and Disassemble Themselves

Combination of techniques reveals how a nanoparticle catalyst forms from individual atoms during operation and subsequently breaks down for recycling.
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory and Stony Brook University, along with their partners, have made significant discoveries regarding the reversible assembly and disassembly of a platinum catalyst. This new insight could provide information about the catalyst’s stability and potential for reuse. Their recent study, published in the journal Nanoscale, explores how individual platinum atoms on a cerium oxide base come together to form active catalytic nanoparticles during reactions. Intriguingly, these particles then break apart when the reaction ceases.