Nanocatalysis by noble metal nanoparticles: controlled synthesis for the optimization and understanding of activities

Abstract

Noble-metal nanoparticles have been widely employed in catalysis. As catalytic properties are dependent on their physical/chemical parameters, strategies for their controlled synthesis and the understanding of performance relationships have gained attention. In this review, we discuss developments on well-defined noble-metal nanoparticles focusing on relationships between performance and physical/chemical features. We begin with the control over shape, composition, and size. Then, we focus on nanoparticles with hollow interiors, which provide further possibilities for performance optimization. We provide a case-by-case discussion to illustrate how, in addition to the hollow interiors, the control over their composition, size, and surface morphology relate to catalytic performance.