Morphological heterogeneity affects catalytic activity in several ways. Variations in particle size can lead to changes in the proportion of surface atoms, which are crucial for catalytic reactions. Smaller particles generally have a higher surface-to-volume ratio, providing more active sites. Additionally, different shapes expose different crystal planes, which can have unique surface properties and reactivity. For instance, platinum nanoparticles with different shapes show varied activity in hydrogenation reactions.
