Modified catalysts and their fractal properties

Abstract

Obtaining high-area catalysts is in demand in heterogeneous catalysis as it influences the ratio between the number of active surface sites and the number of total surface sites of the catalysts. From this point of view, fractal theory seems to be a suitable instrument to characterize catalysts’ surfaces. Moreover, catalysts with higher fractal dimensions will perform better in catalytic reactions. Modifying catalysts to increase their fractal dimension is a constant concern in heterogeneous catalysis. In this paper, scientific results related to oxide catalysts, such as lanthanum cobaltites and ferrites with perovskite structure, and nanoparticle catalysts (such as Pt, Rh, Pt-Cu, etc.) will be reviewed, emphasizing their fractal properties and the influence of their modification on both fractal and catalytic properties. Some of the methods used to compute the fractal dimension of the catalysts (micrograph fractal analysis and the adsorption isotherm method) and the computed fractal dimensions will be presented and discussed.