ORIGIN OF GOLDS CATALYTIC ACTIVITY

Abstract

IN THE BULK, GOLD IS ESSENtially inert. But in nanostructured form, the noble metal can be a surprisingly good catalyst. Researchers may have just uncovered the secret of the element's high catalytic activity In a talk at the ACS national meeting in Philadelphia, chemistry professor D. Wayne Goodman of Texas A&M University described experiments that identify a gold structure that is two atomic layers thick as the form of the metal responsible for gold's ability to catalyze the oxidation of carbon monoxide to an unprecedented degree. The study addresses questions regarding catalytic reaction mechanisms and eventually may lead to more active commercial catalysts. Scientists have been interested in gold's potential for catalyzing CO and propylene oxidation and other reactions since the unexpected discovery by Japanese researchers several years ago that nanometer-sized gold clusters supported on metal oxides such as Ti0 2 exhibit high catalytic activity for certain reactions. Several research teams have tried...