Review of supported metal nanoparticles: synthesis methodologies, advantages and application as catalysts

Supported metal nanoparticles, M-NPs, are of great scientific and economic interest as they encompass application in chemical manufacturing, oil refining and environmental catalysis. Oxidation and hydrogenation reactions are among the major reactions catalyzed by supported M-NPs. Although supported M-NPs are preferable due to their easy recovery and reuse, there are still some practical issues regarding their catalytic activity and deactivation. This review highlights the general features of supported M-NPs as catalysts with particular attention to copper, gold, platinum, palladium, ruthenium, silver, cobalt and nickel and their catalytic evaluation in various reactions. The catalytic performance of noble M-NPs has been explored extensively in various selective oxidation and hydrogenation reactions. In general, noble metals are expensive and sensitive to poisons. Despite their significant merits and potential (easily available, comparatively inexpensive and less sensitive to poisons), catalysis by base M-NPs is relatively less explored. Therefore, activity of base M-NPs can be improved, and still, there is potential for such catalysts.