Further, the procedure for creating the material paves the way for materials that could improve other high-temperature processes such as the production of some chemicals. Many industrial processes rely on catalysts, materials that facilitate key chemical reactions by, for example, lowering the temperature at which a given reaction can proceed. Enter natural gas, a fuel for power plants. Natural gas is very abundant in the United States and environmentally friendly. It produces less of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide than any other fossil fuel, Professor Ying said.
Temperatures can go even higher as combustion continues.
Burning at lower temperatures would create little NOx and cut emissions of greenhouse gases like unburned methane. To that end, two groups of catalysts have been studied. That was the challenge the MIT researchers decided to tackle. Each droplet is, in effect, a miniscule reactor. A final heat treatment and powder recovery complete the process.