Liquid metal catalyst shows promise in industrial reaction

SEM images of Ga- and Pd/Ga-decorated porous glass

Source: © Nature

Palladium dispersed in gallium outperforms solid catalysts at high temperature

Researchers have unveiled a catalyst made of liquid gallium adsorbed onto a solid substrate, and shown it to be highly effective in an industrially vital reaction. Although practical issues remain, the team believes catalysts of this type could be active in many other reactions and potentially very useful in industry.