A review of the advances in catalyst modification using nonthermal plasma: Process, Mechanism and Applications

With the continuous development of catalytic processes in chemistry, biology, organic synthesis, energy generation and many other fields, the design of catalysts with novel properties has become a new paradigm in both science and industry. Nonthermal plasma has aroused extensive interest in the synthesis and modification of catalysts. An increasing number of researchers are using plasma for the modification of target catalysts, such as modifying the dispersion of active sites, regulating electronic properties, enhancing metal-support interactions, and changing the morphology. Plasma provides an alternative choice for catalysts in the modification process of oxidation, reduction, etching, coating, and doping and is especially helpful for unfavourable thermodynamic processes or heat-sensitive reactions. This review focuses on the following points: (i) the fundamentals behind the nonthermal plasma modification of catalysts; (ii) the latest research progress on the application of plasma modified catalysts; and (iii) main challenges in the field and a vision for future development. The possible modification processing of a non-thermal plasma modification technology for catalysts including improving particle size, increasing dispersibility and functional groups, achieving valence state transitions, introducing oxygen vacancy defects, degrading harmful substances, and realizing catalyst regeneration. [Display omitted] •Discussions of NTP modification processes and the change of physicochemical properties.•The analysis of fundamentals behind the NTP modification of catalysts.•The investigations of the application of catalysts modified by NTP.•The main challenges in the field and a vision for future development.