Synergistic effects and catalytic properties tailored by nanostructure processing

Nanostructure processing offers new ways for tailoring unique surface chemistry and interaction to promote catalytic activity and selectivity. It can be used to engineer novel catalysts with complex composition, stoichiometry, dispersion, and pore structure. The latest approaches include inert gas condensation and pillaring of layered structures. The former is employed for generating nanoalloys, which can be post-oxidized to produce non-stoichiometry and surface compositional segregation. Nanostructure processing enables exceptionally active and poison-resistant catalysts to be synthesized for important reactions such as SO₂ reduction and CO oxidation, through which significant new insights into the materials aspect of catalyst engineering and the mechanism of chemical reactions were attained. Pillaring of layered structures allows nanocomposites to be achieved through molecular-level packaging of layered hosts and pillaring agents. This approach offers a great deal of flexibility in compositional control and pore structure tailoring. The synergism between the layered structure and molecular pillars is examined for enhanced catalytic reactivity and thermal stability. The nanoscale engineering made possible by this synthesis route is likely to bring about unique surface reactivity and catalytic selectivity.