Advances in the catalysis of Au nanoparticles

Gold catalysts have recently been attracting rapidly growing interests due to their potential applicabilities to many reactions of both industrial and environmental importance. This article reviews the latest advances in the catalysis research on Au. For low-temperature CO oxidation mechanistic arguments are summarized, focusing on Au/TiO2 together with the effect of preparation conditions and pretreatments. The quantum size effect is also discussed in the adsorption and reaction of CO over Au clusters smaller than 2 nm. in diameter. In addition, recent developments are introduced in the epoxidation of propylene, water-gas-shift reaction, hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbons, and liquid-phase selective oxidation. The role of perimeter interface between Au particles and the support is emphasized as a unique reaction site for the reactants adsorbed separately, one on Au and another on the support surfaces. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.