ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the emerging concept of Ruthenium (Ru) nanoparticles (NPs) and their diverse applications in different areas. Supported Ru NPs such as Ru oxide nanotubes, ruthenic acid nanosheets, and Ru oxide-based nanocomposites are highly efficient in various reactions, such as ammonia synthesis, Fischer–Tropsch synthesis, selective hydrogenation, and cellulose hydrolysis. There are usually two general approaches for the production of NPs: chemical method, also known as bottom-up and physical methods known as top-down method. Both approaches can be carried out in gas, liquid, supercritical fluids, solid states, or vacuum. The bottom up methods of wet chemical NPs preparation involves the chemical reduction of metal salts, electrochemical pathways, or the controlled decomposition of metastable organometallic compounds. Ru NPs have been utilized in catalytic, analytical, and biomedical applications. Magnetic chiral Ru complex-based catalyst can be used for the hydrogenation of a wide range of aromatic ketones to their corresponding secondary alcohols and exhibited high reactivity and enantioselectivity.
