Materials For Energy

Gold/Palladium Catalysts Create Useful Materials for Aromatic Hydrocarbons

By Dr. Chianelli, The University of Texas at El Paso, Materials Research & Technology Institute

Researchers at Cardiff University in Wales reported that gold/palladium nano-particles are effective catalysts for selectively activating C–H bonds, allowing insertion of oxygen to create useful chemicals.¹ The particular reaction reported was the reaction of oxygen with toluene to form benzyl benzoate.² The Cardiff group, led by Graham Hutchings, has surprisingly demonstrated the important catalytic activity exhibited by normally inert noble metals such as gold.³ For example, they showed that gold/palladium nanoparticles would combine oxygen and hydrogen to form H₂O₂. This reaction has many potential useful applications in energy for fuels.⁴ One such hoped for reaction is the activation of the terminal C–H bonds of straight chain hydrocarbons, allowing the production of more useful products.

1. C&EN, “A New Feat for Gold Catalysts” 1/10/2011, page 9.
2. Science, DOI: 10.1126/science.1198458.
3. C&EN, 5/10/2010, page 42.
4. C&EN, 2/23/2009, page 8.

Plant Engineers Friction Reducing Material

By Dr. Russell Chianelli, Materials Research and Technology Institute, The University of Texas at El Paso

Many of us have wondered over the amazing Pitcher Plant, a plant that causes insects to slide in to a trap where they are digested.¹ Joanna Aizenberg and her colleagues at Harvard University have synthesized a material that mimics the properties of the Pitcher Plant trap. The material is a Teflon sponge impregnated with a water-repellant and oil-repellant lubricating liquid. The materials, called SLIPS, are self-cleaning, self-healing and have the ability to be made transparent. SLIPS have many potential applications, many of which involve energy savings. For example, ship coatings could reduce friction and thus reduce fuel consumption. Defrosting refrigerators that are clogged with icy walls wastes energy and time. SLIP-coated refrigerator walls could eliminate this problem.

Slip-sliding away to make SLIPS. Aizenberg’s team impregnates a porous network of Teflon nanofibers (gray) with a water- and oil-repellent lubricating liquid (blue).  

 

1. C&E, “Pitcher Inspires Super Slippery Surface,” 9/26/2011, page 5.