Fuel Cells
- Through its use as a nano particle, Palladium has proven fruitful in the research of fuel cells. It allow fuel cells to react efficiently and prevent them from bunching together as they are converted into electricity. Furthermore, its abundance and its low cost make it a better alternative to previous catalysts. They do not lose as much surface area, which allow fuel cells to react freely.
testing
- The compound Palladium II chloride is used to test the resistance of stainless steel as it can corrode stainless steel, even in its dry form
- The same compound of Palladium chloride is used in carbon monoxide detectors as the presence of carbon monoxide causes a reaction in which Palladium chloride reverts back to Palladium
Jewelry
- Palladium is often used to make white gold alloy, which although more expensive, causes less allergic reactions than nickel-gold alloys in belts
- With the price of platinum increasing, for a time, Palladium was used briefly as an alternative to jewelry until its price rose too
Other uses
- The second most common use of Palladium is in transistors found in phones,computers, and TVs often combined with nickel alloy to make an effective electrical circuit
- Its use for aircraft spark plugs is efficient due to its ability to carry electrical current that allow it to ignite jet engines
- Its malleability as a metal allow it to be shaped into different shapes. For this reason, it is often molded into surgical instruments, among other tools
- Before newer revealing methods in photography, Palladium salts were used to make photography paper that usually came out as black-and-white prints and was an alternative to silver and platinum.