Work

The Multifaceted Reactivity of Single‐Atom Heterogeneous Catalysts

Year: 2018

Type: review

Abstract: Single-atom heterogeneous catalysts (SACs) attached to carefully chosen hosts are attracting considerable interest; principally because they offer maximum utilization per metal atom and are usually readily recyclable. However, diminution of the atomic population of nanoparticles or nanoclusters to single atoms can significantly alter reactivity because of the consequent changes in the active-site structure. By examining various diverse applications, we ascertain whether the performance of SACs is enhanced or suppressed. We also note that SACs generally display unique kinds of catalytic cycles. The choice of host is crucial since it influences both the electronic and steric environment of the metal center. Moreover, it may function as a cocatalyst. All these aspects impact upon the design of new SACs, which exhibit similarities to hetero- and homogeneous predecessors. Additionally, SACs offer a viable replacement of soluble metal complexes in processes that remain difficult to heterogenize.

Source: Angewandte Chemie International Edition

DOI: 10.1002/anie.201806936

Authors: Sharon Mitchell, Evgeniya Vorobyeva, Javier Pérez‐Ramírez

Institutions: ETH Zurich, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering

Language: English

Topic: Catalytic Processes in Materials Science

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung

Award: Doing more with less: efficient single-atom catalysts based on carbon nitride for sustainable chemical transformations