Exploiting Recent Advancement in the Field of Nanotechnology in Heterogeneous Catalysis: Shaped Metallic Nanostructures as Selectivity Catalysts, Photo-Catalysis, and Platform for the Characterization of Surface Chemical Reactions

Recent progress in solution-based synthetic chemistry has allowed the synthesis of well defined metallic nano particles of controlled size and shape. The ability to control particle size and shape is allowing us to control geometric, electronic, and optical characteristics of these nano-structures. In this talk I will discuss a number of examples where we exploit the high degree of control of the critical physical characteristics of metallic nanostructures (mainly nanostructures of noble metals) in heterogeneous catalysis. These examples include: (i) using these nano-structures as highly selective heterogeneous catalysts, (ii) exploiting their unique optical properties to advance our ability to characterize molecular chemical transformations on surfaces under operating conditions, (iii) using them as promoters for photo-catalysis by semiconductors, and (iv) using them as unique materials that can control the synchronized conversion of photonic (solar flux) and thermal stimuli to drive chemical transformations in an energy efficient manner.