Surface chemistry of solid catalysts

Surface chemistry of solid catalysts is an interdiscipline research area of surface science and catalysis science. It aims at fundamental understandings of heterogeneous catalysis of solid surfaces and establishments of structure-activity relation of solid catalysts at the atomic and molecular levels via surface chemistry studies of solid catalysts. Surface chemistry studies of solid catalysts are challenging due to complex and poorly-uniform structure of solid surfaces. This review introduces a novel approach based on model catalysts ranging from single crystals to nanocrystals and summaries the research progress employing such an approach, including the establishment of “oxygen vacancy-controlled reactivity of hydroxyl groups on oxide surfaces” concept, the reveal of facet effect in oxide catalysis, and the demonstration of structural sensitivity of gold catalysis. Surface chemistry studies of model catalysts ranging from single crystals to nanocrystals are hopeful to realize the ultimate research goal of fundamental catalysis studies- from the fundamental understandings at the atomic and molecular levels to the structural design and controlled synthesis of efficient catalysts.