A prestigious collaboration between the UK and Germany is set to revolutionise our understanding of the hidden world of atoms.
Researchers from the University of Nottingham and the University of York have joined forces with the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf research laboratory in Germany after being awarded a significant grant to advance the frontiers of catalysis – the acceleration of a chemical reaction by a substance.
While catalysis underpins almost every major industrial process from the production of life-saving medicines to the creation of fertilisers and polymers, the field has long been hampered by a high rate of failure. Unlike the relatively predictable worlds of construction or computing, designing the next generation of catalysts remains an immense challenge because of the sheer difficulty of seeing what is happening at the smallest possible scale.
At first glance, the role of a catalyst seems straightforward: it brings molecules together, breaks some bonds, and forms new bonds between atoms. However, in reality, it resembles a complex, carefully choreographed dance of atoms on the catalyst's surface.
To date, studying this dance has been frustrated by traditional methods like spectroscopy which only provide an average view of millions of particles at once. Because these particles vary in size and shape, the vital atomic-level details are often blurred or lost entirely.
To solve this, Associate Professor Jesum Alves Fernandes has developed a pioneering facility at Nottingham that allows for the assembly of catalyst particles directly from individual atoms. He explains: 'Precision in catalyst material fabrication is everything for catalysis. We developed a method that enables us to steer metal atoms on a surface, directing them to separate from one another or to assemble into clusters of specific sizes and shapes.'
The researchers have already proven they can manipulate the "landscape" of these surfaces using argon plasma to achieve an incredible density of platinum atoms. In this new phase of the project, the partners in Dresden will use high-precision ion beams to create surface defects or implant atoms with even greater control.
he team aims to move beyond older concepts by using transmission electron microscopy to film chemical reactions in real time. While this technology uses accelerated electrons to pinpoint atomic positions, it has traditionally lacked the speed to capture fast moving reactions. Having previously recorded the first ever footage of a chemical bond breaking and forming, the researchers are now refining time-resolved microscopy to observe a catalyst in action. This paradigm shift could lead to a far more efficient use of rare metals in clean energy technologies, ensuring that the chemical industry becomes more sustainable for the future.
As this initiative moves forward, it is highlighting the power of global partnership in tackling some of the most pressing scientific challenges of our time. Supported by the EPSRC International Centre-to-Centre projects, this collaboration allows the University of Nottingham to host a truly world-class team of scientists with complementary skills.
Dr Maeve Fitzpatrick, our strategic lead for international research, notes that by working together, these researchers can achieve a much greater impact than would be possible in isolation. Ultimately, the team hopes that these breakthroughs in manipulating surface-atom positions will lead to a more efficient use of rare metals in clean technologies like hydrogen production. This work directly supports the broader goals of the Metal Atoms on Surfaces and Interfaces (MASI) programme, ensuring a more sustainable future for the rare elements that power our modern world.
