BEIJING, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Scientists at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities have invented a groundbreaking device called a "catalytic condenser" that electrically makes one metal behave like another, acting as a catalyst to accelerate chemical reactions so they can proceed more quickly and efficiently. The research, published in the sister journal of the American Chemical Society, JACS Au, opens the door to new catalytic technologies using non-precious metal catalysts that could improve the efficiency of storing renewable energy, making carbon-free fuels and sustainable materials.

Over the last century, scientists have used chemical reactions, catalyzed by specific materials, to produce and manufacture a wide range of chemicals and materials used in everyday life. Many of these catalytic materials, such as the precious metals ruthenium, platinum, rhodium and palladium, possess unique electronic surface properties that are essential for controlling chemical reactions. However, these expensive materials are in short supply around the world and have become a major obstacle to advancing technology.

To develop alternatives to the catalytic properties of these materials, the researchers relied on their knowledge of electron behavior at the surface to successfully test the theory that adding and removing electrons to one material allows that material to mimic the properties of another, and accordingly invented this catalytic condenser device.

Professor Paul Dauenhauer, head of the latest research, said, "This new device regulates the number of electrons on the surface of a catalyst, offering a whole new opportunity to control chemical reactions and enable more materials to play the role of noble materials."

The catalytic condenser device uses a combination of nanofilms to move and stabilize electrons on the catalyst surface, the researchers explain. The design has a unique mechanism that combines metals and metal oxides with graphene, allowing for rapid electron flow across the surface.

"Using a variety of thin-film techniques, we combined a nanoscale alumina film made of inexpensive and abundant aluminum metal with graphene and then tuned it to have the properties of other materials, and the device tuned the catalytic and electronic properties beyond our expectations," the researchers said.

The researchers say this catalytic condenser has a wide range of uses as a platform device, and that "the core design and novel components can be modified to apply to any chemical reaction we can imagine."

The team plans to continue working on this catalytic condenser and use it to address some of the most important sustainability and environmental issues. With funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation, several parallel projects are already underway, such as storing renewable electricity as ammonia; making key molecules in renewable plastics; and cleaning gaseous waste.

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