New method paves way for atomic-level design

A new X-ray method will enable the development of more efficient catalysts. The method opens up new opportunities to work on atomic level in a number of areas of materials science. Researchers from Lund University are among those behind the new method. The new X-ray method is used to determine the atomic structure of the surface of different materials. The goal of the present research is to understand how catalysts work at atomic level – both the catalytic converters used for vehicle emissions control in cars and catalysts used in industry. “Today, almost all developments in catalysts take place through a method of trial and error, but in order to be able to develop better catalysts in the future, deeper understanding of the atomic level is needed”, says Dr Johan Gustafson, a researcher at the Department of Physics at Lund University. A catalyst works by capturing the molecules that are to react on a catalytic surface.