Metallic nano-particles light up another path towards eco-friendly catalysts Platinum clusters consisting 19 atoms perform 50 times higher catalytic activity
(WorldNews Japan)

Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology produced subnano-sized metallic particles that are very effective as catalysts for the oxidation of hydrocarbons. These catalysts can be as much as 50 times more effective than well-known Au-Pd bimetallic nanocatalysts. Figure 1. Catalytic activity of subnano-sized metallic particles within dendrimers. Each dendrimer molecule hosts a subnano-sized metallic particle that allows for the oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons, such as toluene (left), to produce useful organic compounds, such as benzoic acid (right). Oxygen molecules are represented in red. The oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons is critically important for producing a great variety of...