Every chemical reaction must overcome an energy hurdle before it can occur. Substances need an initial input of energy to start reacting. Sometimes this barrier is small, like lighting a match. In many industrial processes, however, the required energy is much higher, which increases costs.
To make reactions easier and more efficient, chemists rely on substances called catalysts. These "reaction helpers" reduce the energy needed. The most effective catalysts often contain metals, including rare and expensive ones.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have now made a major advance in catalyst design. Their new system significantly lowers the energy needed to produce methanol (an alcohol) from carbon dioxide and hydrogen.
The team also achieved an unusually efficient use of the metal indium. In this catalyst, each individual indium atom acts as its own active site. This is a major shift from traditional approaches, where metals are grouped in particles.
To read more, click here.