Gold Nanoparticles and Oxygen Activation for Carbon Monoxide Conversion

Researchers from Tulane University have identified why gold resists oxidation and how its surface structure can be manipulated. By shifting from a dense hexagonal atomic arrangement to a looser square pattern, gold becomes a highly effective catalyst for splitting oxygen molecules. This discovery is particularly relevant for industrial decarbonization. Efficient oxygen activation is required to convert carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide, and gold nanoparticles offer a way to drive this reaction without the corrosion or side effects common in other metallic catalysts.