ABSTRACT
Different industries (petrochemical, pharmaceuticals, refinery, etc.) are progressively using metal-nanoparticle-catalysed reactions, for instance hydrogenations, oxidations, cycloadditions and so on (Bert and Van de Voorde 2017). The use of heterogeneous catalysts using nanoparticles of different compounds has been used in industries progressively due to the great reactivity of the nanospecies involved (Philippot and Sherp 2013; Ricciardi et al. 2015). Atom clusters at a scale of nanometers (1–50 nm) form metallic nanoparticles that possess properties between molecular structures and bulk metals. This quality provides them unique physical and chemical properties that are very valuable in the field of catalysis. The benefits of using heterogeneous catalysis are very well known, especially in the field of Green Chemistry (Sharma and Mudhoo 2011). The nanocatalysts are striking candidates to be used as catalysts due to their great surface/volume ratio, high activity and long life-time (Astruc 2008). The nanocatalysts’ structure is very complex; their activity (conversion and selectivity) is influenced not only by the type of nanometal and support but also by their composition and the shape and size of their components. Different parameters size, shape and dispersion of their components or their electronic configuration, among others can be adjusted in order to obtain a very active and selective nanocatalyst. Nanocatalysis can be considered as the link between heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis since it combines a great reactivity and selectivity of the homogeneous catalysis and the easy separation and reutilization of the solid catalyst, also complying with the goals of the green catalysis (Sharma and Mudhoo 2011).
