In the Middle Ages, alchemists worked diligently to transform base metals, such as lead, into gold or other precious metals. While these ambitions were without success, medieval alchemy set the stage for modern chemistry. One trick of the trade today is catalysis, in which a substance — the catalyst — is added to speed the… Keep reading →
Fuel cells — a clean energy technology that generates electricity using hydrogen and air — hold the promise of helping us dramatically reduce our dependence on oil while reducing air pollution. Yet, the high costs of fuel cell catalysts, which rely on expensive precious metals like platinum and can account for up to 50 percent of… Keep reading →
