Application of Physical Adsorption and Chemisorption Techniques in Heterogeneous Catalytic Research: A Review

In heterogeneous catalytic reactions, the structure of the catalyst and the nature of its surface-active sites are essential for a comprehensive understanding of the reaction mechanisms. Both physical and chemical adsorption technologies play pivotal roles in addressing these issues. Physical adsorption technology has emerged as a preferred method for determining the specific surface area, pore structure, and diffusion properties of porous catalytic materials due to its wide applicability and reliability of test results. Meanwhile, chemical adsorption is valuable for characterizing the type and quantity of active sites on catalysts, including acidic and basic sites, as well as metal dispersion and the adsorption of reactant gases. A thorough understanding of how physical and chemical adsorption technologies are applied in catalytic research can enable researchers to accurately investigate catalytic reaction mechanisms. This review begins by outlining the principles behind physical and chemical adsorption technologies. It then presents various studies showcasing the use of different probe molecules in examining the structure and active sites of catalysts. Finally, we discuss potential future directions for the development of physical and chemical adsorption methods, offering new insights for more advanced adsorption techniques and their applications in catalytic research.