title: Nanocatalysis in Flow.
abstract: Nanocatalysis in flow is catalysis by metallic nanoparticles (NPs; 1-50 nm) performed in microstructured reactors. These catalytic processes make use of the enhanced catalytic activity and selectivity of NPs and fulfill the requirements of green chemistry. Anchoring catalytically active metal NPs within a microfluidic reactor enhances the reagent/catalyst interaction, while avoiding diffusion limitations experienced in classical approaches. Different strategies for supporting NPs are reviewed herein, namely, packed-bed reactors, monolithic flow-through reactors, wall catalysts, and a selection of novel approaches (NPs embedded on nanotubes, nanowires, catalytic membranes, and magnetic NPs). Through a number of catalytic reactions, such as hydrogenations, oxidations, and cross-coupling reactions, the advantages and possible drawbacks of each approach are illustrated.
authors.affiliation: Lab of Molecular Nanofabrication, Mesa+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, Enschede, 7500 AE (Netherlands).
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ricciardi
authors.affiliation: Lab of Molecular Nanofabrication, Mesa+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, Enschede, 7500 AE (Netherlands).
authors.forename: Jurriaan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huskens
authors.affiliation: Lab of Molecular Nanofabrication, Mesa+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, Enschede, 7500 AE (Netherlands). w.verboom@utwente.nl.
authors.forename: Willem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Verboom
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D055772:Green Chemistry Technology; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*
keywords: flow chemistry; green chemistry; heterogeneous catalysis; microreactors; nanoparticles