From metal vapor to supported single atoms, clusters and nanoparticles: Recent advances to heterogeneous catalysts

The ever-increasing demand for metal catalysts on the global market has encouraged the development of new approaches for the synthesis of highly efficient catalysts. Metal and organometallic vapor-based synthesis methods allow exerting a high control over the morphological and structural features of the supported metal active phase leading to a significant contribution to design advanced catalysts and understand reaction mechanisms at atomic scale. In this mini-review, we describe recent advances on the synthesis of heterogeneous catalysts by three different promising methods using vapors of metal or organometallic complexes as precursors: atomic layer deposition (ALD), cluster beam deposition (CBD) and metal vapor synthesis (MVS). Catalytic applications over the last decade of heterogeneous catalysts containing single atoms, clusters or nanoparticles are reported and discussed pointing out the potentiality of these three approaches.