Nanobiotechnology in Catalysis

Nanobiotechnology are materials that are engineered at the nanoscale (1-100 nanometers in size) to exhibit unique properties that can be exploited for various applications. Nanobiotechnology have been increasingly utilized in catalysis, which is the acceleration of a chemical reaction by a catalyst. Catalysis is integral in the production of many chemicals and energy sources, and Nanobiotechnology can provide enhanced catalytic activity compared to traditional catalysts. Nanobiotechnology can be used as either “homogeneous catalysts” or “heterogeneous catalysts.” Homogeneous catalysts are dissolved in a reaction solution and are usually composed of metals such as palladium, platinum, and ruthenium. Heterogeneous catalysts, on the other hand, are insoluble and are typically composed of metal oxides, such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Nanobiotechnology can be advantageous as catalysts because of their small size, large surface area, and high reactivity. The small size of Nanobiotechnology allows them to penetrate reaction solutions and react with molecules better than larger catalysts. The large surface area of Nanobiotechnology increases the number of available active sites, which increases the efficiency of the catalytic reaction. Additionally, Nanobiotechnology often have high reactivity due to their unique electronic structure, which can further improve catalytic efficiency. Nanobiotechnology have been used in a wide range of catalytic applications including fuel cells, water splitting, and organic synthesis.