Niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5) has long been known to catalyze unique acid induced reactions, redox reductions and photo-catalytic reactions, etc. Recently, there have been significant advancements in tailoring the oxide materials with controlled structures and morphologies using nano-chemical synthesis by the help of surfactant or stabilizer for optimal catalytic performance. In this short review, we will particularly highlight these synthetic methods for preparation of Nb2O5 nanostructures, their potential applications in catalysis and their structure-activity relationships

A stronger metal-support interaction between Pd and plate-form Ga(2)O(3) nanocrystals covered with the predominant 002 surface than other Ga(2)O(3) surfaces is found, which gives higher methanol yield in catalytic CO(2) hydrogenation.

In this paper, we present a new approach to investigate metal–support interaction in catalysis. First, we have carried out a controlled growth of two semiconductive Ga2O3 nanocrystals in distinctive shapes, namely, plate and rod with the majority of their surfaces covered with polar and nonpolar facets, respectively. We have then placed the same contents of Pd on these nanocrystals and carried out a systematic testing and characterization for methanol synthesis from CO2 hydrogenation under industrial applicable conditions. It is found that a low indexed (002) polar Ga2O3 surface is highly unstable, which gives oxygen defects and mobile electrons in the conduction band more readily than those nonpolar (111) and (110) surfaces. A significantly strong metal–support interaction between the (002) polar Ga2O3 surface and Pd was determined, and it gave rise to higher metal dispersion and facilitated electron transfer between them, leading to the formation of PdGa x . This renders such composite nanocatalysts active for methanol production.

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We report the quantification of partial ion insertion into individual 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane nanoparticles. It is shown that both potassium and sodium ions can be inserted into single TCNQ nanoparticles from aqueous solution. The extent of both potassium and sodium insertion into individual nanoparticles is quantitatively measured and shown to be partial and sodium ion shows a higher extent of insertion. The insertion process is inferred to be limited and controlled by the formation of a thin shell of salt, Na(+)/K(+) TCNQ˙(-) formed at the surface of the nanoparticle.