What are the Effects of Particle Size on Catalytic Reactions?
Activity: Smaller particles tend to increase the overall catalytic activity due to a higher number of exposed active sites. However, this is not a linear relationship, and there is often an optimum particle size for maximum activity.
Selectivity: Particle size can also affect the selectivity of a catalyst. For instance, smaller particles may expose different crystal facets, which can favor certain reaction pathways over others.
Stability: While smaller particles generally provide higher activity, they are also more prone to agglomeration and sintering, especially at high temperatures. This can lead to a loss of surface area and deactivation of the catalyst.
