Towards a molecular understanding of the electronic metal-support interaction (EMSI) in heterogeneous catalysis

Tailoring the electronic metal-support interaction (EMSI) has attracted considerable interests as one of the most efficient approaches to improve both the activity and stability of metal catalysts in heterogeneous catalysis. In this viewpoint, we illustrate the methodology and relevant fundamentals on the disentanglement, characterization, and interpretation of EMSI. Under the choice of monometallic catalyst over inert support, a combination of optimal experiment design, multimodal techniques, in situ characterization, with a comprehensive understanding of the underlying measurement protocols is highly desirable for a reliable determination of EMSI. Accordingly, not only the d-band filling but also d-band energy within the EMSI should be taken into consideration for providing general principles to guide the electron-promoting catalytic reaction.