Friday, 4th August 2006 (4986 views)

Project AuTEK, a research scheme initiated by South African metals group Mintek, is looking to commercialise a gold catalyst that will improve fuel cells, according to Mining Weekly.

Gold can be used as a potent catalyst to speed up chemical reactions if it is dispersed in clusters of nanoparticles. In particular, the yellow metal speeds up the oxidation of carbon monoxide - a highly toxic gas - into carbon dioxide.

One of the biggest problems with the development of environmentally-friendly fuel cells is that small levels of carbon monoxide in the hydrogen fuel makes them perform badly.

However, gold catalysts such as that used in Project AuTEK's AuroPure H2 system can convert the gas to carbon dioxide, thereby improving the efficiency of the fuel cell.

A spokesperson for the project has told Mining Weekly that partners are now being sought in order to bring the product to market.

Gold could also be used in other devices that require the removal of harmful substances like carbon monoxide, such as air conditioning systems and gas marks.

Meanwhile, researchers in Toronto have found that gold electrodes can be used to create a new, efficient kind of semiconductor.

 

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