Chapter 3: Support Morphology-dependent Activity of Nanocatalysts

The morphology-dependent catalytic performance of various supported metal nanocatalysts (Au, Pd, Pt, Co, Cu and Ru) deposited on oxide supports (cerium oxide and zinc oxide) with varying morphologies are discussed. The support morphology-dependent activity for important industrial reactions such as carbon monoxide oxidation, ammonia synthesis, the water–gas shift reaction, methanol steam reforming, and so forth is discerned. The nanoscale synthesis of metal nanoparticles and their deposition on nanosupports (CeO₂ and ZnO) with diverse morphologies imparts unique properties to nanocatalysts owing to the distinctive metal-support interactions. Most of the nanocatalysts display diverse metal-support interactions because of the different planes exposed on their surface. Furthermore, the stability and uniform distribution of the metal nanoparticles is contingent on the morphology of the support. Consequently, it is imperative to tailor the morphology of the support, exposing active planes on the surface and exploiting the selective deposition of metal nanoparticles on these planes to enhance the catalytic activity of nanocatalysts. This chapter focuses on the fundamental understanding of the vital relationship between the support morphology and the ensuing catalyst reactivity, providing a new direction to the design and development of highly efficient heterogeneous catalysts.