Single atom catalyst suggests we don’t understand catalysis that well

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If you ever wanted to name a single technology that transformed society while remaining nearly invisible, catalysts would be an excellent answer. Transforming one stable compound (say, nitrogen gas) into another stable compound (nitrogen-based fertilizer, for instance) requires an enormous amount of energy unless a catalyst is used. Then it suddenly becomes worthwhile. Indeed, that one reaction series—nitrogen gas to ammonia to fertilizer—is responsible for feeding the majority of people on the planet today.

The difficulty is that we don't really have a great understanding of how most catalysts work. And a recent paper adds considerably to that confusion by showing that single atoms can act as very efficient catalysts.

Why are catalysts necessary?

When we make new compounds, whether they're plastics, gasoline, fertilizers, or pretty much any modern material, we require a catalyst at some point. The reason for this is simple. We take raw materials from the world around us. These materials are stable. If they weren't, they would have reacted long ago to form a different material that was stable. Stable materials like to stay just as they are.