The researchers turned CO into CO2 with a single metal atom

Researchers from Washington State University and Tufts University have demonstrated for the first time that a single metal atom can act as a catalyst in converting carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, a reaction. Learning is often used in catalytic converters to remove harmful gases from vehicle emissions.

The study, published in Nature Catalysis, shows that we can improve the catalyst design.

While studying catalysts at low temperatures, researchers are led by Jean-Sabin McEwen, assistant professor of WSU's Voiland School of Engineering and Chemical Engineering and Charles Sykes, professor. chemistry at Tufts University, was interested in single metal atoms and considered their ability to act as catalysts at lower temperatures.

"Most of the toxic substances in your exhaust, like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide, emit when you start the engine. The lower the temperature, the more difficult it is to disable harmful chemicals," McEwen said .

In their paper, the researchers demonstrated that the reaction could work with single platinum atoms on a copper oxide layer near room temperature. Single platinum atoms hold carbon monoxide while copper oxide provides oxygen to convert it into carbon dioxide.

Instead of catalytic converters that use rare and expensive metals such as platinum, the use of single metal atoms will help reduce costs.

Their research is also the answer to a long debate among scientists about whether a single metal atom could act as a catalyst to oxidize carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide at low temperatures. No, or use an atom cluster to do that.