Multicomponent noble metal catalysts

It is well established that commercially important supported noble metal catalysts contain small metal crystallites that are typically smaller than a few nanometers. The surface of these crystallites is populated by different types of metal atoms depending on their locations on the surface, such as comers, edges, or terraces. In structure sensitive reactions, different types of surface metal atoms possess quite different properties. For example, in the synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen, different surface crystallographic planes of Fe metal exhibit very different activities. Thus, one of the most challenging aspects in metal catalysis is to prepare samples containing metal particles of uniform shape and size. If the active phase is multicomponent, then it is also desirable to prepare particles of uniform composition. 

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