Atomically Dispersed Supported Metal Catalysts: Seeing Is Believing

HighlightsAtomically dispersed noble metals on host copper have high activities for CH bond activation reactions such as hydrogenations and dehydrogenations, showing unprecedented resistance to poisoning and coke formation – suggesting possible practical applications.Atomically dispersed noble metals on oxides have high activities for CO oxidation and offer tantalizing prospects for CH bond activation, suggesting possible practical applications for vehicle exhaust-emission control and methane-conversion catalysts, respectively.Atomically dispersed noble metal catalysts with well-defined and nearly uniform structures are yielding fundamental understanding of structure, bonding, and reactivity that is unprecedented for solid catalysts that are not models (such as metal single crystals). The depth of understanding of these catalysts is approaching that of molecular organometallic catalysts.AbstractCatalysts consisting of isolated oxophilic metal atoms bonded to supports are well established in industry. Noble metals isolated on supports are now drawing intense interest – stimulated by atomic-resolution microscopy images revealing the metal atoms and spectroscopic determinations of the catalytic site structures. These catalysts have been made on oxides, zeolites, carbons, and metals. New catalysts with unique properties are being discovered rapidly. Researchers are also gaining deep insights to advance the science and bolster discovery of new catalysts. Catalysts for prospective applications are oxide-supported cationic metals for CO oxidation and CH bond activation, and metal-supported zerovalent metals for CH bond activation and hydrogenations. This field is stimulating not only catalysis science but also surface science, materials synthesis, and electron microscopy.