A researcher who has carried out groundbreaking studies into the surface chemistry of fuel cells and platinum catalysts has been rewarded for his efforts with the Nobel Prize for Chemistry 2007.

Gerhard Ertl has been awarded this year's Nobel Prize for Chemistry in response to his work to help understand how fuel cells work, as well as looking into how platinum catalysts in cars function.

His research in surface chemistry has included work on the oxidation of carbon monoxide on platinum, which is a reaction that takes place in the catalysts of cars and helps to reduce emissions from vehicles. 

Professor Ertl's work found that rates of a reaction will vary depending on the coverage of the platinum surface, highlighting the importance of platinum in the catalysts.

Professor Ertl has developed a methodology for surface chemistry since its emergence in the 1960s and his efforts have resulted in the creation of experimental practices to obtain a complete picture of a surface reaction.

Source:

Modern surface chemistry – fuel cells, artificial fertilizers and clean exhaust, 10/10/07
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/2007/press.html

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