Chapter 12
Ligand Effects in Ruthenium
Nanoparticle Catalysis
Luis M. Martínez-Prieto and Piet W. N. M. van Leeuwen
Abstract This chapter comprehends the recent advances on the influence of
nitrogen-, oxygen-, phosphorus-, and carbon-ligands in ruthenium nanoparticle catalysis with some discussion toward other metals when required. It focuses on the
influence of stabilizing ligands that able to modify the nanoparticle catalytic properties and it discusses how the catalytic properties of supported nanoparticles can be
modified through their functionalization with ligands.
Keywords Ruthenium · Metal nanoparticles · Ligand effects · Surface chemistry ·
Ligand-stabilized nanoparticles · Supported ligand-functionalized nanoparticles ·
Nanocatalysis
12.1 Introduction
The application of metal nanoparticles (MNPs) in catalysis has undergone a real
revolution during the last decades [1]. This boom resides in the many advantages
of MNPs, which combine the benefits of both heterogeneous and homogeneous
catalysts. As well as heterogeneous catalysts, MNPs present high stability (stable
at harsh reaction conditions) and can be easily recovered from the reaction medium
(recyclables), but they have a higher surface area than conventional metallic surface
materials. Therefore, MNPs display a high surface/volume ratio, which means a
large number of surface sites. Although MNPs are sometimes more selective than
common heterogeneous catalysts, they still present a large variety of surface atoms
with different nature and activity, which is reflected in a great diversity of active
L. M. Martínez-Prieto (B)
Instituto de Tecnología Química (ITQ), Universitat Politècnica de València-Consejo Superior de
Investigaciones Científicas (UPV-CSIC), Av. de los Naranjos S/N, Puerta L, Edificio 6C, 46022
Valencia, Spain
e-mail: luismiguel.martinez@csic.es
P. W. N. M. van Leeuwen
LPCNO, Institut National des Sciences Appliquées-Toulouse, 135 Avenue de Rangueil, 31077
Toulouse, France
e-mail: vanleeuw@insa-toulouse.fr
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
P. W. N. M. van Leeuwen and C. Claver (eds.), Recent Advances in Nanoparticle Catalysis,
Molecular Catalysis 1, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45823-2_12
407
Ligand Effects in Ruthenium
Nanoparticle Catalysis
Luis M. Martínez-Prieto and Piet W. N. M. van Leeuwen
Abstract This chapter comprehends the recent advances on the influence of
nitrogen-, oxygen-, phosphorus-, and carbon-ligands in ruthenium nanoparticle catalysis with some discussion toward other metals when required. It focuses on the
influence of stabilizing ligands that able to modify the nanoparticle catalytic properties and it discusses how the catalytic properties of supported nanoparticles can be
modified through their functionalization with ligands.
Keywords Ruthenium · Metal nanoparticles · Ligand effects · Surface chemistry ·
Ligand-stabilized nanoparticles · Supported ligand-functionalized nanoparticles ·
Nanocatalysis
12.1 Introduction
The application of metal nanoparticles (MNPs) in catalysis has undergone a real
revolution during the last decades [1]. This boom resides in the many advantages
of MNPs, which combine the benefits of both heterogeneous and homogeneous
catalysts. As well as heterogeneous catalysts, MNPs present high stability (stable
at harsh reaction conditions) and can be easily recovered from the reaction medium
(recyclables), but they have a higher surface area than conventional metallic surface
materials. Therefore, MNPs display a high surface/volume ratio, which means a
large number of surface sites. Although MNPs are sometimes more selective than
common heterogeneous catalysts, they still present a large variety of surface atoms
with different nature and activity, which is reflected in a great diversity of active
L. M. Martínez-Prieto (B)
Instituto de Tecnología Química (ITQ), Universitat Politècnica de València-Consejo Superior de
Investigaciones Científicas (UPV-CSIC), Av. de los Naranjos S/N, Puerta L, Edificio 6C, 46022
Valencia, Spain
e-mail: luismiguel.martinez@csic.es
P. W. N. M. van Leeuwen
LPCNO, Institut National des Sciences Appliquées-Toulouse, 135 Avenue de Rangueil, 31077
Toulouse, France
e-mail: vanleeuw@insa-toulouse.fr
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
P. W. N. M. van Leeuwen and C. Claver (eds.), Recent Advances in Nanoparticle Catalysis,
Molecular Catalysis 1, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45823-2_12
407