Strong Metal‐support Interactions in Photocatalysis: Fundamentals and Design Methods

Abstract

Engineering the composition and geometry of metallic sites has become a popular manner to boost reaction rate and control reaction selectivity in heterogeneous catalysis. Many studies have been devoted to enhancing the stability of metallic nanoparticles during catalytic reactions by dispersion on metal oxide supports such as TiO2, CeO2 or Nb2O5. These supports not only modulate electronic properties and dispersion/stabilization of metallic nanoparticles but also influence catalytic selectivity, resulting in the so‐called “strong metal‐support interaction” (SMSI). In this minireview, we outlined the discovery and fundamentals of SMSI, as well as its extensive development over the years. In addition, we summarized the recent approaches developed to induce the construction of SMSI between different metal nanoparticles and metal oxide supports and discussed the associated characterization microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. Despite of being a prevalent concept in catalysis, the number of studies on SMSI in heterogeneous photocatalysis has been still in limitation. Herein, we highlighted the beneficial effect of SMSI on boosting photocatalytic activity for CO2 reduction and H2 evolution reactions. In general, despite some controversial aspects of the SMSI, this concept opens wide opportunities ahead and encourages researchers to rethink the local active site localization and photocatalyst design.

Abnormal copper coordination obtained by a TiO2 overlayer as the key to enhance photocatalytic hydrogen generation

“…15,16 While SMSI construction is a pivotal strategy in thermal catalysis, its application in photocatalysis leaves ample room for further studies. 17,18 The exploration of the aforementioned MSI phenomena should be extended as it can lead to a rearrangement of electrons within both materials, 19 favorable separation of photogenerated charge carriers, and modification of the adsorption of H 2 O or CO 2 . 6,20 Various methods have been proposed to construct a strong metal–support interface, especially under mild conditions, including the mechano-chemical, soft-chemical, and photoinduced reduction of the support, 21,22 instead of the conventional reductive high temperature conditions (500–700 °C).…”