Main performance indicators of precious metal catalysts

Activity: This is a standard for measuring the effectiveness of noble metal catalysts. Industrially, it is usually expressed as the amount of product obtained per unit volume (or weight) of catalyst per unit time under certain conditions.

Selectivity: This refers to the specificity of a noble metal catalyst's action; that is, under certain conditions, a particular catalyst accelerates only a specific chemical reaction. Selectivity is usually expressed as the percentage of the molar number of the desired product after the reaction to the molar number of the reactants.

Stability: This refers to the ability of a noble metal catalyst to maintain its activity and selectivity during use, usually expressed as its lifetime. The good performance of a catalyst depends not only on the inherent characteristics of the active metal (e.g., the electronic structure of atoms), but also on its crystal structure, particle size, specific surface area, pore structure, and dispersion state. Furthermore, the co-catalyst and support also have a significant impact on the catalyst's performance.