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Monday, 15th December 2008 (1605 views)

Scientists have developed a more efficient way to form azo compounds - which are used in paints and dyes - using gold nanoparticles.

A team consisting of Abdessamad Grirrane, Avelino Corma and Hermenegildo Garcia from the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia in Spain carried out the work, which is published in the Science journal.

The researchers used gold nanoparticles as a catalyst to form the compounds with yields of over 98 per cent using a mild reaction.

They stated that the development "shows promise for efficient synthesis of symmetric aromatic azo compounds".

In related news, a team from the University of Pittsburgh and the National Energy Technology Laboratory have used a gold plate to prove that chemical reactions on metal surfaces can be sustained over long distances.

Also published in Science, the work demonstrated how molecules rearrange themselves after their bonds have been broken.

The scientists noted that the work has "sizeable potential".

 

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