nobelmetaalkatalysator

Noble metal catalysts are catalysts that use noble metals—primarily platinum group metals such as platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), rhodium (Rh), ruthenium (Ru), iridium (Ir), as well as gold (Au) and, in some cases, silver (Ag)—as the active catalytic component. These metals are prized in catalysis for their high activity, selectivity, and resistance to corrosion and oxidation, allowing them to operate under demanding conditions. In practice, the active metal is typically dispersed on a support material such as alumina, silica, titania, carbon, or zeolites, forming a heterogeneous catalyst with high surface area.

Key properties include strong catalytic activity for a wide range of reactions, good stability under reaction conditions, and the ability to form active sites at the nanoscale. The performance of noble metal catalysts can be tuned by particle size, shape, alloying with other metals, and the choice of support. Bimetallic or multimetallic combinations (for example Pt-Pd, Pt-Ru, or Pd-Ag) often exhibit enhanced activity, selectivity, or resistance to poisoning compared with monometallic counterparts.

Applications are diverse. In industry, noble metal catalysts drive hydrocarbon processing, oxidation and hydrogenation reactions, and reforming processes. They are central to automotive catalytic converters (reducing harmful emissions), and they play crucial roles in petrochemical synthesis, fuel cells, and various organic transformations, including cross-coupling and selective hydrogenations. In electrocatalysis, Pt-based catalysts are common in fuel cells and electrolyzers, while gold and other noble metals are explored for CO2 reduction and water splitting.

Challenges include high cost and limited supply, catalyst poisoning by sulfur or other contaminants, and sintering at high temperatures. Ongoing research aims to improve efficiency, reduce loading, and develop durable, recyclable catalysts, including single-atom and nanoarchitectured designs.