Review of the Gas-Phase Synthesis of Particle Heteroaggregates and Their Applications

Abstract

Custom-made nanomaterials are indispensable in the production of high-value goods in almost any industry. For many applications, materials with defined functional contacts on the nanoscale between different components are crucial. In heterogeneous catalysis, active nanoparticles are often dispersed on a support, and defined interfaces facilitate the stabilization of the active materials. This leads to strong metal-support interactions (SMSI), which determine the activity and selectivity of the catalytic reactions. In photocatalysts, hetero-contacts can significantly reduce electron–hole recombination after light excitation, leading to improved photoefficiency. By choosing materials with appropriate band levels, the redox window can be tuned for a specific reaction. In batteries, mixing the active material and carbon leads to improved electrochemical characteristics. All these applications have in common that different nanomaterials need to be mixed at the nano-level with defined interfaces. This review highlights the most suitable routes for gas-phase synthesis of particle heteroaggregates, their modeling, and their applications.