| Abstract Scope |
Nanoparticle-mediated electromagnetic heating delivers energy directly to functional surfaces, overcoming the inefficiencies of conventional bulk heating. This study compares two configurations based on spherical maghemite (γ-Fe₂O₃) nanoparticles: gold-coated γ-Fe₂O₃ spheres that utilize plasmonic heating for catalysis, and palladium-coated γ-Fe₂O₃ spheres that employ magnetic induction for hydrogen storage and release. Using previously published experimental data, we assess energy conversion, thermal profiles, and functional output for both systems. γ-Fe₂O₃-Au spheres catalyze reactions at rates twice as fast as unsupported gold nanoparticles with significantly less gold, and are magnetically recoverable, resulting in a 6.7-fold cost advantage as measured by a new Normalized Process Efficiency (NPE) metric. γ-Fe₂O₃-Pd spheres enable tunable hydrogen release and preserve isotope selectivity. NPE, benchmarked against standard performance metrics, uniquely integrates output, cost, and durability, demonstrating that this maghemite-based platform offers substantial performance and economic benefits for catalytic and energy applications. |