Precious platinum group metals such as palladium and platinum have long been used as catalysts in chemical reactions, but their extraction is difficult, expensive and environmentally harmful. Now, scientists have created a new type of aluminum that could be a cheap and environmentally friendly alternative.
The new aluminum is a compound of three atoms arranged in a triangular structure. Thanks to its high reactivity and stability in various solutions, it demonstrates efficiency in processes such as splitting diatomic hydrogen and forming ethylene, a key component in the production of plastics.
Platinum and palladium, traditionally used as catalysts, are highly resistant to corrosion and oxidation, and can easily break and form chemical bonds. However, their extraction is energy-intensive and expensive, and most of the world's platinum is mined in South Africa, which uses electricity from burning coal.
The new aluminum, scientists say, is capable of surpassing transition metals in reactivity. It is also about 20,000 times cheaper than platinum and palladium, making it a potentially revolutionary material for the chemical and energy industries.
Aluminum was also once considered a precious metal: in the late 19th century, its price reached the value of silver, but by the early 20th century, it had fallen hundreds of times. Today, the metal may become more valuable than gold due to its role in creating cheap and efficient catalysts.
