Intentional defects make for better reactions, researchers report

A defect is not always a bad thing. In fact, when it comes to improving the electrocatalysis process that produces clean-burning hydrogen gas, it may be a very good thing. Researchers based in China engineered an electrocatalyst—which speeds up a desired reaction—with both amorphous and crystalline architectures that contains defects in the atomic structure. The defects enable the electrocatalyst to trigger "superior" reaction activity, the team reported.