Nanoreactors

Abstract

Smaller, highly parallel chemical processing using nanosized reactors, or nanoreactors, is an emerging trend. The advantages of using nanoreactors includes improved control over reaction processes and yields, enhanced safety, versatility and cost effectiveness. Understanding chemical reactions inside nanoreactors requires a re‐examination of the basic assumption of reaction mechanisms and an awareness of how the nanoreactor itself alters the normal reaction outcome by virtue of thermodynamic and interfacial effects. This article outlines the basic reasons why nanoreactors are of interest in science and technology and reviews a few of the major classes of materials that are used as nanoreactors.