麻豆淫院

An international research team from Washington State University, University of North Dakota, National Taiwan University, and partner institutions has discovered a way to supercharge platinum鈥揷eria catalysts using a tiny but powerful ingredient鈥攕ingle-atom zirconium (Zr). This innovation could make pollution control systems more energy-efficient and cost-effective, while reducing the need for precious metals.

The team's work, in Nature Communications, reveals that individually placed zirconium atoms act as "smart assistants" to platinum. Instead of being the main reactive site, Zr subtly modifies the surrounding platinum environment, making oxygen easier to activate. This applies to both oxygen molecules from the air and lattice oxygen stored in the catalyst itself. These activated oxygen species are essential for breaking down harmful gases like carbon monoxide, propane, and propylene.

Using state-of-the-art X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center in Taiwan, the researchers confirmed that zirconium atoms remain atomically dispersed and form unique Zr鈥揙鈥揚t structures.

Theoretical modeling showed that these structures cut the energy barrier for oxygen activation by over 50%, dramatically speeding up oxidation reactions.

In performance tests, the zirconium-enhanced platinum鈥揷eria catalyst achieved pollutant breakdown at lower temperatures than conventional catalysts. This means less energy is needed to start cleaning the air鈥攃ritical for applications such as automotive exhaust treatment, industrial emissions control, and sustainable chemical manufacturing.

"Our study demonstrates how atomic-level design can transform catalytic performance, offering a new pathway towards cleaner and more sustainable industrial processes," says Prof. Chih-Jung Chen, corresponding author of the study.