TY - JOUR
T1 - Catalysis on faceted noble-metal nanocrystals
T2 - Both shape and size matter
AU - Xie, Shuifen
AU - Choi, Sang Il
AU - Xia, Xiaohu
AU - Xia, Younan
PY - 2013/5
Y1 - 2013/5
N2 - Experimental studies with single-crystal surfaces and computational simulations have long established that the activity and selectivity of a heterogeneous catalyst for a structure-sensitive reaction can be maximized by controlling the arrangement of atoms on the surface. The essence of these studies, however, could not be materialized until very recently when it became possible to generate faceted nanocrystals with controlled shapes and sizes, including those with high-index facets. In principle, the size of a faceted nanocrystal determines the surface-to-bulk atomic ratio and the proportions of different types (e.g. vertex, edge, and face) of atoms while the shape governs the types of facets on its surface and thus the arrangement of face atoms. Additionally, the adsorption of atomic/molecular species during the synthesis of nanocrystals and operation of a catalytic reaction can alter their shape and thus their durability as a catalyst. All of these issues need to be fully understood and addressed in the design, synthesis, and utilization of faceted noble-metal nanocrystals for catalytic applications.
AB - Experimental studies with single-crystal surfaces and computational simulations have long established that the activity and selectivity of a heterogeneous catalyst for a structure-sensitive reaction can be maximized by controlling the arrangement of atoms on the surface. The essence of these studies, however, could not be materialized until very recently when it became possible to generate faceted nanocrystals with controlled shapes and sizes, including those with high-index facets. In principle, the size of a faceted nanocrystal determines the surface-to-bulk atomic ratio and the proportions of different types (e.g. vertex, edge, and face) of atoms while the shape governs the types of facets on its surface and thus the arrangement of face atoms. Additionally, the adsorption of atomic/molecular species during the synthesis of nanocrystals and operation of a catalytic reaction can alter their shape and thus their durability as a catalyst. All of these issues need to be fully understood and addressed in the design, synthesis, and utilization of faceted noble-metal nanocrystals for catalytic applications.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84878350096&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.coche.2013.02.003
DO - 10.1016/j.coche.2013.02.003
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:84878350096
SN - 2211-3398
VL - 2
SP - 142
EP - 150
JO - Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering
JF - Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering
IS - 2
ER -