Nanocatalysis and Adsorption Phenomena in Metal Nanoparticles
Summary
Metal nanoparticles serve as highly efficient catalysts owing to their large surface-to-volume ratio, tunable electronic properties and the capacity to host active sites with atomic precision. Nanocatalysis explores how reduced dimensions give rise to quantum size effects, altered coordination environments and enhanced surface-atom reactivity. Adsorption phenomena underpin catalytic activity by governing the strength and mode of interaction between reactant molecules and nanoparticle surfaces. Factors such as particle size, shape, composition and the nature of supporting materials combine to modulate adsorption energies, active‐site availability and reaction pathways. Dynamic restructuring of metal atoms under reaction conditions further tailors surface site distributions, leading to emergent selectivity profiles and improved resistance to deactivation. Practical applications span sustainable fuel-cell electrocatalysis, selective hydrogenations, environmental remediation and chemical feedstock production, with global impact in clean energy and green chemistry.
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Nanocatalysis and Adsorption Phenomena in Metal Nanoparticles publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanocatalysis and adsorption phenomena in metal nanoparticles across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Nanocatalysis: The study of catalytic processes facilitated by nanoparticles, emphasising size-dependent activity and selectivity.
Adsorption energy: The enthalpic change associated with binding of a molecule to a surface, determining reaction kinetics.
Surface site: A specific atomic or ensemble location on a nanoparticle where reactants can adsorb and react.
Bimetallic nanoparticle: A nanoscale particle composed of two different metals, offering synergistic electronic and geometric effects.
Density functional theory (DFT): A quantum-mechanical modelling method used to predict electronic structure and adsorption properties.
Support effect: The influence of a substrate material on the electronic structure and stability of supported metal nanoparticles.
References
- Metal–Support Interactions in Heterogeneous Catalysis: DFT Calculations on the Interaction of Copper Nanoparticles with Magnesium Oxide. ACS Omega (2023).
- Surface composition changes of CuNi-ZrO2 during methane decomposition: An operando NAP-XPS and density functional study. Catalysis Today (2017).
- Theoretical Investigation of the Size Effect on the Oxygen Adsorption Energy of Coinage Metal Nanoparticles. Catalysis Letters (2021).
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