Silica is favored as a support material for several reasons. Firstly, its high surface area provides ample active sites for metal dispersion. Secondly, its chemical inertness ensures that it does not participate in unwanted side reactions. Additionally, silica's thermal stability allows it to withstand high-temperature reactions. The tunable porosity of silica also enables control over the diffusion of reactants and products, optimizing the catalytic activity.
