Using individual atoms to achieve fossil-free chemistry

Every chemical reaction faces a barrier: For substances to react with one another, it is first necessary to supply energy. In many cases, this energy barrier is low—such as when striking a match. For many key reactions in industry, however, it is much larger—and increased energy requirements drive up production costs. To lower this barrier, chemists use "reaction helpers" known as catalysts. The best of these substances contain metals—including, in some cases, rare metals.