Hot electron chemistry in catalytic reactions

Catalysis is more active when the system is moved to a beneficial energy landscape through electron transfer between the catalyst surface and a reaction intermediate. Charge transfer in a metal on oxide system, which is the main component of indus-trial catalysts, plays a crucial role since it leads to the enhancement of catalytic per-formance. This knowledge serves as the foundation for discussing electron transfer at metal-oxide junctions as a separate subject. In this review, we highlight recent progress in the detection of hot electrons excited in various catalytic reactions using 'hot electron detectors' and discuss the correlation between electron transfer and reactivity. A catalytic nanodiode must be coupled with metal-oxide heteroge-neous catalysts to study the surface dynamics of hot electrons on metal surfaces.

Automated summary

Catalysis is enhanced by electron transfer between catalyst surface and reaction intermediate. Charge transfer in metal-oxide systems is crucial for catalytic performance. This review focuses on the detection of hot electrons in catalytic reactions and the relationship between electron transfer and reactivity. Coupling a catalytic nanodiode with metal-oxide heterogeneous catalysts allows studying the dynamics of hot electrons on metal surfaces.