Nano-noble metal catalysts

Noble metal nanometer materials, including gold (Au), silver (Ag), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh), osmium (Os), and iridium (Ir), have outstanding electrical properties (such as d electron orbital is vacant and easy adsorption of reactants), catalytic properties (including electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, and thermocatalysis), and other physicochemical properties. The applications of nano-noble metal catalysts have been spread throughout a number of industries such as the electronics, chemical industry, energy, metallurgy, and environment. Synthesis and application of nano-noble metal catalysts is one of the most dynamic sub-disciplines in the field of nanotechnology. In this chapter, the structural features, preparation methods, energy and environmental applications, and typical case analysis of nano-noble metal (specially Pt and Pd) catalysts are briefly analyzed and summarized.