[nanoPost] Metal nanocluster catalysts

Company USA

Automotive catalytic converters use supported metals to catalyze the transformation of toxic pollutants such as CO, NOx, and hydrocarbons into more environmentally benign molecules. Automotive catalysts typically use the precious metals platinum, palladium, and rhodium, the costs of which are high and unstable.

The company's metal nanocluster catalysts provide high activity at lower cost by optimizing precious metal efficiency. We can adjust the composition of nanoclusters to tailor a catalyst's performance to specific industrial applications. 

The company's  unique combination of algorithms, software, synthesis processes, and testing methodologies enables the rapid development of novel heterogeneous catalysts, thus reducing R&D cost. The company have unique algorithms and software that address computational catalyst design. The company also has proprietary synthesis technologies to generate supported nanoparticles and novel testing methods that provide a detailed understanding of catalytic processes.

The traditional method of catalyst design has been by trial-and-error, which typically involves making a large number of materials and testing them. The results of testing, along with empirical knowledge are used to modify existing materials and drive them toward desired properties. The trial-and-error approach can consume a great deal of time and money, with no assurance of success. Recently, combinatorial approaches have been tried, in which a very large number of materials are synthesized and tested in a high-throughput manner.

Unfortunately, such high throughput (HT) chemistry and testing often gives a large number of false results. In addition, the material preparation methods available to HT screening are limited. While there was much initial enthusiasm for high-throughput methods, it is fair to say that they have yet to live up to their promise.

In contrast, the company's  technology uses fundamental knowledge of a catalyst's structure and reactivity to guide the creation of new products. The company obtains its fundamental understanding of catalysts by combining state-of-the-art computational methods with novel synthesis and testing procedures.

The company released its first two products, promoted platinum and Pt:Pd in mid-2006, within two years from initial concept. These products increased performance by 25%-30% over commercial platinum only products and matched industry's most advanced laboratory products. The company released its second generation product by Q1, 2007, which surpasses first generation's performance by 20+%.