by In a groundbreaking development, researchers have discovered that liquid metals could be the key to revolutionizing the chemical industry. The use of liquid metals as catalysts could replace the energy-intensive processes that have been in place since the early 20th century. Chemical production is responsible for a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for approximately 10-15 percent of the total. Moreover, over 10 percent of the world’s total energy is consumed by chemical factories.
The recent findings, published in Nature Nanotechnology, present an innovative approach that moves away from traditional solid catalysts made from solid materials. Led by Professor Kourosh Kalantar-Zadeh from the University of Sydney’s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, along with Dr. Junma Tang from the University of Sydney and UNSW, the research demonstrates the potential of liquid metals as catalysts in chemical reactions.
Solid catalysts, typically made from solid metals or compounds of metals, are commonly used in the chemical industry to produce plastics, fertilizers, fuels, and other materials. However, these processes are energy-intensive and require high temperatures of up to a thousand degrees centigrade.
The new technique involves the use of liquid metals, specifically tin and nickel, which have unique mobility properties. These liquid metals can migrate to the surface and react with input molecules, such as canola oil. This reaction results in the fragmentation and reassembly of canola oil molecules into smaller organic chains, including propylene—a high-energy fuel crucial for many industries.
This breakthrough presents a remarkable opportunity for the chemical industry to reduce energy consumption and promote greener chemical reactions, according to Professor Kalantar-Zadeh. He notes that the chemical sector is projected to account for more than 20 percent of emissions by 2050. However, the manufacturing processes employed in the chemical industry are often less visible compared to other sectors, underscoring the need for a paradigm shift.
Liquid metals offer several advantages over their solid counterparts. They have greater freedom of movement and can easily come into contact with and participate in chemical reactions. As a result, they can catalyze chemicals at much lower temperatures, requiring significantly less energy. The researchers dissolved high melting point nickel and tin in a gallium-based liquid metal with a melting point of only 30 degrees centigrade.
By dissolving nickel in liquid gallium, the researchers gained access to liquid nickel at extremely low temperatures, effectively creating a “super” catalyst, as solid nickel’s melting point is 1455 degrees centigrade. A similar effect was observed for tin metal in liquid gallium, although to a lesser extent, according to Dr. Tang. The metals were dispersed in liquid metal solvents at the atomic level, allowing for the utilization of single atom catalysts—an advancement that offers a significant advantage to the chemical industry.
Overall, this research demonstrates the potential of utilizing liquid metals as catalysts to significantly reduce energy consumption in the chemical industry and promote greener chemical reactions. The use of liquid metals allows for catalysis at much lower temperatures, lowering energy requirements and greenhouse gas emissions. This breakthrough represents a paradigm shift that could play a crucial role in greening the chemical sector.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
