Squeezed crystal becomes better catalyst
By 
Tim Wogan2021-10-21T13:30:00
Fine-tuning platinum’s lattice strain with removable atomic spacers boosts its catalytic activity by up to 50%
Using phosphorus atoms as removable spacers, scientists have fine-tuned the strain in a platinum electrocatalyst’s crystal lattice. Inducing different amounts of tension or compression dramatically changes the catalyst’s activity, more than doubling it in some cases.