Achievement

Precious metals are used for catalytic processes in profitable markets, for example in catalytic converters in the combustion engine industry. Catalytic reactions occur ideally on particular metal lattice surfaces, therefore it is imperative to synthesize metal nanoparticles that have a large surface area to volume ratio and expose the most active crystal surface for the desired catalytic reaction. Kayla Roeser's project involves synthesizing faceted controlled Platinum and Palladium nanoparticles through a biomimetic route. In a phage display technique called biopanning, specific binding peptides to metal surfaces are selected and then used in an aqueous synthesis of nanoparticles from metal precursors and a strong reducing agent, sodium borohydride. With this technique, facet, shape, and size control of metal nanoparticles is achieved in an environmentally friendly synthesis.