Dislocations can significantly influence the catalytic performance of materials. The presence of dislocations often results in enhanced catalytic activity and selectivity due to the following reasons:
Active Sites: Dislocations introduce additional active sites that are not present in the perfect crystal lattice. These sites can lower the activation energy of chemical reactions. Electronic Structure: The electronic structure at the dislocation core is different from that of the bulk material, which can enhance the material's ability to adsorb and activate reactant molecules. Surface Area: Dislocations can increase the surface area of the catalyst, providing more sites for reactions to occur.
