Nanomaterials engineering and applications in catalysis

Abstract

Abstract Heterogeneous catalysis utilizing metal particles plays an essential role in the industrial applications. Design and fabrication of highly active catalysts in an efficient and cost-effective way is thus an important topic. The emergence of nanotechnology provides an excellent opportunity for developing new catalysts. In this critical review, we present our efforts and perspective on the recent advances in engineering nanomaterials for catalysis, including synthesis, stabilization, and catalytic applications of nanoparticles. We first briefly summarize the advanced colloidal synthesis of metal nanoparticles using Ag nanoplates as the model system, and then discuss the strategies for stabilization of metal nanoparticles using both chemical and physical approaches. And finally, for practical applications, we have designed and synthesized a highly efficient, stable, and cost-effective TiO2-based photocatalyst by combining both non-metal doping and noble metal decoration.