Review Article: Catalysts design and synthesis via selective atomic layer deposition

Abstract

Tailoring catalysts with atomic level control over active sites and composite structures is of great importance for advanced catalysis. This review focuses on the recent development of area selective atomic layer deposition (ALD) methods in composite catalysts design and synthesis. By adjusting and optimizing the area selective ALD processes, several catalytic structures are developed, including core shell structures, discontinuous overcoating structures, and embedded structures. The detailed synthesis strategies for these designed structures are reviewed, where the related selective approaches are highlighted and analyzed. In addition, the catalytic performance of such structures, including activity, selectivity, and stability, is discussed. Finally, a summary and outlook of area selective ALD for catalysts synthesis and applications is given.

Nickel Supported on Mesoporous Zirconium Oxide by Atomic Layer Deposition: Initial Fixed-Bed Reactor Study

“…In 1990s, there was a strong industry-driven effort for ALD for catalysis in Finland; the technique was then called "atomic layer epitaxy" [11,[25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32]. Interest in ALD for the preparation of supported heterogeneous catalysts has again been increasing during the past decade [33][34][35][36][37][38][39]. The current interest in ALD is based for example in the ability of ALD to prepare (close to) monodisperse metal particles; to make overcoatings to temper the activity of highly active but non-selective sites; and to prepare single-atom catalysts.…”

Shape selection through epitaxy of supported platinum nanocrystals

“…34 Surface science studies of defect-free, singlecrystal model catalysts play a pivotal role in underpinning structure-activity relationships and elementary reaction mechanisms in catalytic reactions. [35][36][37] However, these model catalysts do not present various important features characteristic of real heterogeneous catalysts. In a perspective, the as-obtained supported nanostructures could reduce the materials gap as model catalysts, providing a range of features (edges and corners) present in real catalysts but absent from single crystal model catalysts.…”

Surface functionalization on nanoparticles via atomic layer deposition

“…There are demands to functionalize active oxide-coated metallic NPs to improve catalytic performance from the synergistic effect at interfaces [12,13]. All these applications require nanoscale controllable surface functionalization.…”

“…For ALD encapsulation structures, the wellengineered overcoating layers could protect the core materials to enhance thermal stability and prevent ambient moisture or oxygen diffusion, while keeping the original properties of primary particles. In some cases, the conformal coating may isolate the surface and degrade its performance [13], and the discontinuous or porous coating structure is developed to maintain access to the NPs while providing physical confinement [29]. The selective decoration of particles makes it possible to obtain preferred exposure surfaces.…”