Scientists Find Gold’s Hexagonal Surface Cuts Oxygen Reactions by up to 1 Trillion
Updated
Updated · Gizmodo · May 21
Scientists Find Gold’s Hexagonal Surface Cuts Oxygen Reactions by up to 1 Trillion
1 articles · Updated · Gizmodo · May 21
A Physical Review Letters study found gold resists tarnish because atoms on two common surfaces reorganize into a hexagonal pattern that slashes oxygen reactions by a billion- to trillion-fold.
Computer simulations by Tulane researchers Matthew Montemore and Santu Biswas showed gold’s naturally weak oxygen affinity alone cannot explain the effect; the surface geometry creates the real barrier.
On Au(110) and Au(100), hexagonal reconstructions blocked oxidation far better than rectangular or squarelike arrangements, where oxygen molecules split apart and reacted with the metal.
The finding could reshape catalyst design, because preventing or reversing those rearrangements may make gold better at oxygen-driven reactions used in chemical manufacturing, plastics inputs and renewable-fuel production.
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