Quantifying interactions on interfaces between metal particles and oxide supports in catalytic nanomaterials

Metal-support interactions can dramatically affect the properties of nanocomposite materials. Nevertheless, comprehensive studies of the interfaces between metal nanoparticles and oxide supports remain scarce due to challenges in experimental characterization. A significant understanding of the interactions at such interfaces can be obtained by combining state-of-the-art experiments with density functional calculations. In particular, this Perspective illustrates how theory and experiment can be combined to study interfacial charge transfer, the short- or long-range natures of nanoparticle-support interactions and the effects of oxide nanostructuring on the properties of supported metal particles. These studies aid our understanding of the role of metal-oxide interactions in industrially employed nanocomposites and the design of interfaces with unique properties for future applications.