'Dumbbell' atomic pairs tackle decades-old ethanol chemistry problem

'Dumbbell' atomic pairs tackle decades-old ethanol chemistry problem

From perfumes and synthetic flavorings to plastics and resins, acetaldehyde is a chemical used to make countless everyday products.  However, producing it efficiently has remained a challenge because the catalysts that convert ethanol into acetaldehyde gradually lose activity, generate unwanted byproducts, or break down over time. Now, researchers have developed a three-metal catalyst that tackles those long-standing problems in an unusual way. …