Other research groups have already achieved promising results with both of these elements, and chromium has also been incorporated into luminescent materials in the past. A potential application could be in the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients.įor a long time, the search for sustainable and cost-effective materials without noble metals focused primarily on iron and copper. This paves the way for photochemical reactions that are otherwise difficult to initiate. The disadvantage of the new materials is that chromium requires a more complex framework than noble metals – and further research will therefore be needed in the future.Įncased in its rigid organic framework, chromium proves to be much more reactive than noble metals when exposed to light. This tailor-made environment helps to minimize energy losses due to undesired molecular vibrations and to optimize the luminescent and catalytic properties. The team designed this organic framework to be particularly stiff, so that the chromium atoms are well packaged.
To make the chromium atoms glow and enable them to convert energy, the researchers built them into an organic molecular framework consisting of carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen. “Here, there’s also the potential to use our new materials in artificial photosynthesis to produce solar fuels,” explained Wenger. If the new chromium compounds are irradiated with a red lamp, the energy from the light can be stored in molecules which can then serve as a power source. Plants use this process to convert CO2 using sunlight energy into energy-rich glucose and other substances that serve as fuel for biological processes. The new materials are also proving to be efficient catalysts for photochemical reactions, including processes that are triggered by exposure to light, such as photosynthesis. Click the press release link for a larger image. Image Credit: University of Basel, artistic rendition by Jo Richers. State-of-the-art chromium compounds act as luminescent materials and catalysts. Relative to osmium, however, chromium is about 20,000 times more abundant in the earth’s crust – and much cheaper. Writing in Nature Chemistry, the team reports that the luminescent properties of the new chromium materials are nearly as good as some of the osmium compounds used so far.
Researchers led by Professor Oliver Wenger from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Basel have developed chromium compounds that can replace the noble metals osmium and ruthenium – two elements that are almost as rare as gold or platinum – in luminescent materials and catalysts. Soon, however, the element may also be found in the screens of ubiquitous mobile phones or used to convert solar energy. We’re familiar with the chromium material from everyday applications such as chromium steel in the kitchen or chrome-plated motorcycles. Expensive noble metals often play a vital role in illuminating screens or converting solar energy into fuels.
In terms of their properties, the new materials are very similar to those used in the past. University of Basel chemists have succeeded in replacing the rare elements osmium and ruthenium with a significantly cheaper metal.
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