Controllable Catalysis with Nanoparticles: Bimetallic Alloy Systems and Surface Adsorbates

Transition-metal nanoparticles are privileged materials in catalysis due to their high specific surface areas and abundance of active catalytic sites. Although many of these catalysts are quite useful, we are only beginning to understand the underlying catalytic mechanisms. Opening the “black box” of nanoparticle catalysis is essential to achieve the ultimate goal of catalysis by design. In this Perspective, we highlight recent work addressing the topic of controlled catalysis with bimetallic alloy and “designer” adsorbate-stabilized metal nanoparticles.