Catalyst architecture for metal–support interactions and its effects on heterogeneous reactions

Abstract

Metal nanoparticles supported on various metal oxides play vital roles in numerous industrial catalytic reactions. It has been widely observed that the catalytic performance and selectivity of supported metal catalysts are strongly influenced by metal–support interactions (MSIs), resulting from the significant differences in electronic and geometric properties between metals and oxide supports. Despite significant research efforts to understand MSIs, their systematic nature remains elusive due to the diverse catalyst systems and the complexity of the interactions involved. Specifically, the interfacial regions between metals and supports exhibit synergistic effects, leading to various MSI-induced phenomena such as chemical exchange and charge transfer, which ultimately dictate the chemical activity and intrinsic properties of catalysts. MSIs have opened up new possibilities in the design of heterogeneous catalysts for a wide range of applications. Therefore, a comprehensive review is necessary to summarize recent progress and highlight the applications of MSIs in heterogeneous reactions. In this review, we provide a general overview of recent advances in the study of three main categories of MSIs: strong metal–support interaction, electronic metal–support interaction, and interfacial perimeter effects. We discuss their crucial effects on representative catalytic reactions and summarize the synthesis strategies employed to control MSIs in catalyst systems, as well as the advanced characterization techniques used to investigate MSIs. Finally, we outline the challenges and opportunities for future research on MSIs.