An ODE to Nanoparticles in Catalysis

Abstract

Going down the particle size to nanodomain opens up innovative allies to expedite the physical and chemical properties of materials, and in turn, facilitates the manipulation of their catalytic propensity. Herein, we provide a succinct perspective of the wide spectrum of nanoparticles (NPs) in catalysis highlighting the underlying chemistry of different aspects, the introspective thread connecting them, and the ways to devise operando algorithms for exploiting such inter-connected systems. Following an introductory section discussing the generic miens of NPs, we went on to discuss the role of nanocrystals, especially various crystal facets and morphological anomalies in catalysis. The electronic shuttling involved in these catalysis vis-à-vis surface plasmon effect, Mott–Schottky contact, and Z-scheme systems, all in the nanodomain, was then explained. Following this, we introduced the concept of “Soft Matter” and “Active Matter”, essentially the ones exploiting previously discussed chemistry, and explained the role of their in situ morphological precedence and stimuli-induced motility in catalysis. Finally, the emerging concept of Operando Systems Chemistry Algorithm (OSCA) was instituted discussing the devising strategies of tandem compartmentalized chemical arrays as individual algorithm analogs to sequentially impact the properties of aforementioned soft and active matters for targeted catalytic assays.