Recent advances in nanostructured solid catalysts with controlled hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance

Design of catalysts with controlled performance is not only important for fundamental research, but also greatly beneficial to industry. Inspired by nature, various types of functionalized materials with different surface nano-patterns have been developed to mimic the structure of enzymes. Among these nanostructures, catalysts with tuned hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance show remarkable performance in liquid phase reactions. The hydrophilic/hydrophobic functionalities surrounding active sites regulate the reaction by adjusting the adsorption configuration of reactants and the structure of solvents, and by stabilizing reaction transition states. This contribution addresses the different aspects of the role of hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance in catalytic reactions at liquid–solid interfaces. Recent developments in the fabrication of nanostructured solid catalysts are discussed along with their performance in liquid phase reactions.