Colloidal nanocrystals for heterogeneous catalysis

Publication date: Available online 17 January 2019Source: Nano TodayAuthor(s): Pit Losch, Weixin Huang, Emmett D. Goodman, Cody J. Wrasman, Alexander Holm, Andrew R. Riscoe, Jay A. Schwalbe, Matteo CargnelloAbstractCatalytic materials are an essential component of the chemical industry. They find applications in everything from fine chemical manufacturing to greenhouse gas mitigation. They are indispensable for developing a sustainable future. Their development has been continuous, from early trial and error efforts to the first fundamental insights gained through surface science, to modern in-situ characterization and computational predictions. The accumulation of knowledge on the working principles of catalytic surfaces allowed designing and producing better systems with improved performance. Even though tremendous progress has been made thanks to surface science techniques, these studies are usually performed under ultra-high vacuum and are therefore limited in their applicability to more relevant industrial conditions. The control over size, shape and composition in colloidal nanocrystals makes them formidable precursors for model heterogeneous catalysts. These model systems enable linking the insights from surface science studies via in-situ and operando studies to realistic catalytic reaction conditions. In this review, colloidal nanocrystals are presented as powerful building blocks for catalytic materials in the quest for fundamental understanding. A review of the pri...
Source: Nano Today - Category: Nanotechnology Source Type: research