Dynamic restructuring of supported metal nanoparticles and its implications for structure insensitive catalysis.

ABSTRACT: Some fundamental concepts of catalysis are not fully explained but are of paramount importance for the development of improved catalysts. An example is the concept of structure insensitive reactions, where surface-normalized activity does not change with catalyst metal particle size. Here we explore this concept and its relation to surface reconstruction on a set of silica-supported Ni metal nanoparticles (mean particle sizes 1-6 nm) by spectroscopically discerning a structure sensitive (CO₂ hydrogenation) from a structure insensitive (ethene hydrogenation) reaction. Using state-of-the-art techniques, inter alia in-situ STEM, and quick-X-ray absorption spectroscopy with sub-second time resolution, we have observed particle-size-dependent effects like restructuring which increase

SUBMITTER: Vogt C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8651646 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature