Catalytic Applications of Non-Centrosymmetric Oxide Nanomaterials

Noble-metal-free catalytic nanoparticles hold the promise being abundant, low-cost materials having a small environmental footprint and excellent performance, albeit inferior to that of noble metal counterparts. Several materials have a long-standing history of success in photocatalysis, in particular titanium dioxide, and in recent years more complex oxides and added functionality have emerged with enhanced performance. We will discuss different approaches related to the use of non-centrosymmetric and polar oxide nanoparticles and how the bulk photovoltaic effect, piezoelectricity, and pyroelectricity add to photocatalysis and tribocatalysis. We pay special attention to discriminate between the role of free versus that of bound charges within the catalyst, which is crucial to disentangle the different contributions to the catalytic reaction for the benefit of the overall enhanced catalytic performance in e.g. wastewater treatment and ultimately water-splitting.

Automated summary

This article discusses the application of noble-metal-free catalytic nanoparticles in photocatalysis and tribocatalysis, focusing on the use of non-centrosymmetric and polar oxide nanoparticles, as well as the role of different charges in catalytic reactions.