Metal–support interactions for heterogeneous catalysis: mechanisms, characterization techniques and applications

Metal–support interactions (MSIs) have become one of the research directions of great interest in the field of heterogeneous catalysis and are significant for the design of supported metal catalysts with improved catalytic activity and controlled product selectivity. Depending on the interactions of the loaded metal or metal oxide, MSIs can mainly be classified as strong metal–support interactions (SMSIs), medium metal–support interactions (MMSIs) and weak metal–support interactions (WMSIs). Furthermore, SMSI can be divided into covalent metal–support interactions (CMSIs) and electronic metal–support interactions (EMSIs) based on the principles of their action. An extensive discussion of the recent theoretical developments is included in this review, as well as the factors influencing these developments. Additionally, the methods for the characterization of the fundamental properties, the fabrication and applications of MSIs and their wide application in the chemical industry, energy conversion and other fields are presented. Conclusively, the challenges and directions for future research and perspectives are discussed.