For platinum catalysts, a tiny squeeze gives a big boost in performance, Stanford study finds (Stanford University)

(Source: Stanford University) A nanosize squeeze can significantly boost the performance of platinum catalysts that help generate energy in fuel cells, according to a new study by Stanford scientists. Former Stanford graduate student Haotian Wang is lead author of a new study that could lead to better fuel cells and other clean energy technologies.(Image credit: L.A. Cicero) The team bonded a platinum catalyst to a thin material that expands and contracts as electrons move in and out, and found that squeezing the platinum a fraction of a nanometer nearly doubled its catalytic activity. The findings are published in the Nov. 25 issue of the journal Science. 'In this study, we present a new...