Stabilizing metal nanoparticles for heterogeneous catalysis

Metal nanoparticles hold great promise for heterogeneous catalysis due to their high dispersion, large concentration of highly undercoordinated surface sites, and the presence of quantum confinement effects, which can drastically alter their reactivity. However, the poor thermal stability of nano-sized particles limits their use to low temperature conditions and constitutes one of the key hurdles towards industrial application. The present perspective paper briefly reviews the mechanisms underlying nanoparticle sintering, and then gives an overview of emerging approaches towards stabilizing metal nanoparticles for heterogeneous catalysis. We conclude by highlighting the current needs for further developments in the field.