Gallium is revolutionizing catalyst technology and driving CO2 reduction
Most people only know catalysts from the automotive industry. In reality, however, they play a crucial role in a wide range of chemical reactions. This makes it all the more important that they are cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Researchers at Chemnitz University of Technology have succeeded in synthesizing a spectacular gallium compound that could revolutionize current catalyst technology.
Gallium costs less, is non-toxic, and possesses unique chemical properties
Current catalysts utilize expensive precious metals such as rhodium and iridium. Scientists from the Chair of Inorganic Chemistry in Chemnitz have observed, for the first time, a reaction of a gallium compound that is typically only seen with these expensive metals. Gallium catalysts would offer several advantages: gallium is more abundant in the Earth’s crust than precious metals, costs less, is non-toxic, and possesses unique chemical properties.
Special reaction opens new paths in catalyst technology
The scientists succeeded in bonding a gallium atom with a single carbon atom. Interestingly, the gallium atom “skips” two carbon atoms during the reaction before forming this single bond. This is an unusual and innovative property of gallium in this specific reaction, through which the metal creates a variety of new paths for further research in catalyst technology. For this reason, the research results of the Chemnitz scientists were published in the renowned specialist journal “Nature Synthesis” in September 2024 and were also honored with a report in “Nature Briefing.”
Liquid metal nano-planet catalysts reduce global CO2 emissions
Gallium had already achieved a breakthrough as a catalyst metal: several scientific journals reported on gallium-copper catalysts for industrial production in 2021. There is also current news here: researchers at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, recently discovered that so-called liquid metal nano-planet catalysts can help eliminate a major source of carbon emissions: ammonia production. A full 2% of global CO2 emissions are attributable to the production of ammonia used in agriculture. This figure is even higher than the emission levels of entire countries like Germany. Liquid nano-planet catalysts could significantly reduce these emissions. Their advantage over solid catalysts is that they prevent unwanted side reactions that could impair the activity of the process. Furthermore, their liquid outer shell facilitates the chemical reactions required for ammonia production, thereby increasing catalytic efficiency.