Designing process-specific catalysts for cleaner, more efficient processes

MARÍA P. GONZÁLEZ-MARCOS, BE?NAT PEREDA-AYO, JUAN R. GONZÁLEZ-VELASCO*
*Corresponding author
Universidad del País Vasco, Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología / EHU
P.O. Box 644, Bilbao, 48080, Spain

Abstract

How and why size matters has been the aim ofresearch in catalysis for decades. The size and shape of metalnanoparticles and clusters determine their performance whenused as catalysts in chemical processes. Controlling size andlocation of metal particles may also benefit the aspects of“green catalysis” which requires that environmentally friendlycatalysts be designed with very high efficiency and selectivitytowards the desired products, thus also eliminating wastes. Inthis paper we run over three case studies to understand betterhow catalysts work at the nanoscale: Silver nanoparticles forcleaner, more efficient production of propylene oxide; Pt-Runanoparticle catalysts for more efficient fuel-cell vehicles; andproximity location of Pt and Ba for improving the performanceof NOx storage-reduction catalysts for purification of exhaustgases from lean burn and diesel engines.


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