In collaboration with Brookhaven National Lab (BNL), scientists at Stony Brook and the U.S. Air Force Laboratory have created a new generation nanoparticles that address environmental problems. Their recent work is featured on the cover Journal of Physical Chemistry, C, Alexander OrlovProfessor in the Department of Materials Science and Chemical EngineeringIn the College of Engineering and Applied SciencesHis students and collaborators have developed ultra-small gold nanoparticles capable of removing carbon monoxide from air.
This work is unique because of a unique method of making these nanoparticles. In this process, gold vapor infuses super-cold helium droplets into gold vapor and creates a jet full of uniform catalysts. The U.S. Air Force Lab is home to the unique equipment needed to make liquid helium. Other research at BNLs Center for Functional nanomaterials is done under the direction of Mingzhao Tong.
Haotian Yang, a PhD candidate in the Orlov labThe first author of the article, Enhancing CO Oxidation Activities via Tuning a Charge transfer Between Gold Nanoparticles & Supports, has proposed a new explanation of gold’s activity toward carbon monoxide. This research could have important implications in designing better nanomaterials that address pressing environmental issues.
You can find out more about this research. Here.