Exfoliation is crucial because it maximizes the surface area of the catalyst, which is directly related to its efficiency. When the material is in a thinner, layered form, more active sites are exposed, allowing for enhanced interaction with reactants. This leads to increased reaction rates and improved catalytic performance. Moreover, exfoliated materials often exhibit unique physicochemical properties that are not present in their bulk counterparts, making them highly desirable for specific catalytic applications.
