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Platinum catalysts strained controllably by size-changing nanocubes

The distance between the surface atoms of noble metals, such as platinum, affects the catalytic activity of these elements. An experimental approach using nanoparticles enables this effect to be systematically controlled and measured.
  1. Sylvain Brimaud

    1. Sylvain Brimaud is in the Department of Fuel Cell Fundamentals, Zentrum für Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Württemberg (ZSW), Ulm 89081, Germany.

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Devices known as electrocatalytic converters, such as water electrolysers and hydrogen fuel cells, act as interfaces for chemical energy and electrical energy. These technologies are starting to be adopted in efforts to develop hydrogen as a storage medium for energy produced by intermittent renewable sources: solar energy, for example, could be used to power electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen; and hydrogen can be used in fuel cells to produce electricity for powering electric vehicles. Platinum is often used as a catalyst for the electrochemical reactions that occur in these devices. The reactions take place at the surface of the metal, and so nanoscale platinum particles are used, to optimize the surface-to-mass ratio of this expensive and scarce element.

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Nature 598, 35-37 (2021)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-02640-1

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Competing Interests

The author declares no competing interests.

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