# Catalysis ## expand\_more #### **Raspberry-colloid templated (RCT) catalysts** Nanoparticle-supported heterogeneous catalysts play a central role in the production of more than 90% of chemicals manufactured globally. The performance (activity, selectivity, stability) of these catalysts is predicated on a variety of descriptors related to the nanoparticles (NPs), support material, and their interactions. To unequivocally elucidate structure-property relationships to guide future catalyst design, we have drawn (bio)inspiration from the morpho butterfly, in combination with our expertise in colloidal synthesis, assembly, and sol-gel chemistry, to devise raspberry-colloid templated (RCT) catalyst platform (a–e). The RCT strategy is highly modular synthetically, allowing for independent control over the various material building blocks and in their 3D spatial organization at different length scales (from nano- to macroscopic). Most importantly, unlike catalysts prepared using conventional methods, the RCT method derives catalysts with NPs deeply entrenched within the support structure (h), conferring enhanced thermal stability (>500 °C) against NP sintering for a variety of gas- and liquid-phase hydrogenation and oxidation reactions. ![rct_tem.png](/sites/g/files/omnuum6296/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/aizenberg/files/rct_tem.png?itok=-62z-kw-) **Contact:** Kang Rui Garrick Lim ([garrick\_lim@g.harvard.edu](mailto:garrick_lim@g.harvard.edu)) Publications ## Publications Download 12 citations download- [BibTeX](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=12&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_affiliated_authors%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_project%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationgroupaffi%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchtopics12%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=179261&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_year123456%5D&&&format=bibtex) - [EndNote X3 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=12&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_affiliated_authors%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_project%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationgroupaffi%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchtopics12%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=179261&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_year123456%5D&&&format=endnote8) - [EndNote 7 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=12&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_affiliated_authors%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_project%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationgroupaffi%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchtopics12%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=179261&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_year123456%5D&&&format=endnote7) - [Endnote tagged](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=12&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_affiliated_authors%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_project%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationgroupaffi%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchtopics12%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=179261&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_year123456%5D&&&format=tagged) - [Marc](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=12&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_affiliated_authors%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_project%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationgroupaffi%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchtopics12%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=179261&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_year123456%5D&&&format=marc) - [PubMedId](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=12&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_affiliated_authors%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_project%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationgroupaffi%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchtopics12%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=179261&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_year123456%5D&&&format=pubmed_id) - [RIS](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=12&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_affiliated_authors%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_project%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationgroupaffi%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchtopics12%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=179261&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_year123456%5D&&&format=ris) ### 2025 Lim KRG, Owen CJ, Kaiser SK, Routh PK, Mendoza M, Park K-CK, Kim T-S, Garg S, Gardener JA, Russotto L, et al. [Nanoscale wetting controls reactive Pd ensembles in synthesis of dilute PdAu alloy catalysts](/publication/nanoscale-wetting-controls-reactive-pd-ensembles-synthesis-dilute-pdau-alloy-catalysts). Nature Communications. 2025;16:6293. Lim KRG, Owen CJ, Kaiser SK, Routh PK, Mendoza M, Park K-CK, Kim T-S, Garg S, Gardener JA, Russotto L, et al. [Nanoscale wetting controls reactive Pd ensembles in synthesis of dilute PdAu alloy catalysts](/publication/nanoscale-wetting-controls-reactive-pd-ensembles-synthesis-dilute-pdau-alloy-catalysts). Nature Communications. 2025;16:6293. - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61540-4) The performance of bimetallic dilute alloy catalysts is largely determined by the size of minority metal ensembles on the nanoparticle surface. By analyzing the synthesis of catalysts comprising Pd8Au92 nanoparticles supported on silica using surface... - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61540-4) Li Y, Cheng D, Son G, Shneidman AV, Lim KRG, Aizenberg J, Sautet P. [Modeling electron storage at the interface between Au and anatase-TiO2 under ambient conditions](/publication/modeling-electron-storage-interface-between-au-and-anatase-tio2-under-ambient). Chem Catalysis. 2025:101430. Li Y, Cheng D, Son G, Shneidman AV, Lim KRG, Aizenberg J, Sautet P. [Modeling electron storage at the interface between Au and anatase-TiO2 under ambient conditions](/publication/modeling-electron-storage-interface-between-au-and-anatase-tio2-under-ambient). Chem Catalysis. 2025:101430. - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.checat.2025.101430) Au supported on TiO2 is a promising photocatalyst due to its ability to catalyze reactions under illumination and store electrons for sustained reactivity in the dark. Using density functional theory (DFT), we investigate the structural evolution and... - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.checat.2025.101430) Lim KRG ", Azizli T, Kaiser SK, Aizenberg M, Montemore MM, Aizenberg J. [Effects of Pd ensemble size in dilute and single atom alloy PdAu catalysts for one-pot selective hydrogenation and reductive amination](/publication/effects-pd-ensemble-size-dilute-and-single-atom-alloy-pdau-catalysts-one-pot-selective). Catal. Sci. Technol. 2025. Lim KRG ", Azizli T, Kaiser SK, Aizenberg M, Montemore MM, Aizenberg J. [Effects of Pd ensemble size in dilute and single atom alloy PdAu catalysts for one-pot selective hydrogenation and reductive amination](/publication/effects-pd-ensemble-size-dilute-and-single-atom-alloy-pdau-catalysts-one-pot-selective). Catal. Sci. Technol. 2025. - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/D5CY00441A) In the one-pot reaction between nitroarenes, aldehydes, and hydrogen, the desired outcome is the selective hydrogenation of nitroarenes to form aminoarenes that condense with aldehydes to yield pharmaceutically relevant imines and N-alkylamines. One... - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/D5CY00441A) Lim KRG, Kaiser SK, Herring CJ, Kim T-S, Perich MP, Garg S, O’Connor C, Aizenberg M, van der Hoeven J, Reece C, et al. [Partial PdAu nanoparticle embedding into TiO2 support accentuates catalytic contributions from the Au/TiO2 interface](/publication/partial-pdau-nanoparticle-embedding-tio2-support-accentuates-catalytic-contributions). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2025;122(2). Lim KRG, Kaiser SK, Herring CJ, Kim T-S, Perich MP, Garg S, O’Connor C, Aizenberg M, van der Hoeven J, Reece C, et al. [Partial PdAu nanoparticle embedding into TiO2 support accentuates catalytic contributions from the Au/TiO2 interface](/publication/partial-pdau-nanoparticle-embedding-tio2-support-accentuates-catalytic-contributions). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2025;122(2). - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2422628122) Most supported catalysts are produced by forming or attaching nanoparticles onto surfaces of supports. However, controlling the interfacial contact between the nanoparticles and support?which has been reported to be the active site for many catalytic... - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2422628122) ### 2024 Routh PK, Redekop E, Prodinger S, van der Hoeven JES, Lim KRG, Aizenberg J, Nachtegaal M, Clark AH, Frenkel AI. [Restructuring dynamics of surface species in bimetallic nanoparticles probed by modulation excitation spectroscopy](/publication/restructuring-dynamics-surface-species-bimetallic-nanoparticles-probed-modulation). Nature communications. 2024;15(1):6736. doi:10.1038/s41467-024-51068-4 Routh PK, Redekop E, Prodinger S, van der Hoeven JES, Lim KRG, Aizenberg J, Nachtegaal M, Clark AH, Frenkel AI. [Restructuring dynamics of surface species in bimetallic nanoparticles probed by modulation excitation spectroscopy](/publication/restructuring-dynamics-surface-species-bimetallic-nanoparticles-probed-modulation). Nature communications. 2024;15(1):6736. doi:10.1038/s41467-024-51068-4 - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract Restructuring of metal components on bimetallic nanoparticle surfaces in response to the changes in reactive environment is a ubiquitous phenomenon whose potential for the design of tunable catalysts is underexplored. The main challenge is the lack of... Lim KRG, Aizenberg M, Aizenberg J. [Colloidal Templating in Catalyst Design for Thermocatalysis](/publication/colloidal-templating-catalyst-design-thermocatalysis). Journal of the American Chemical Society. 2024;146(32):22103–22121. doi:10.1021/jacs.4c07167 Lim KRG, Aizenberg M, Aizenberg J. [Colloidal Templating in Catalyst Design for Thermocatalysis](/publication/colloidal-templating-catalyst-design-thermocatalysis). Journal of the American Chemical Society. 2024;146(32):22103–22121. doi:10.1021/jacs.4c07167 - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract Conventional catalyst preparative methods commonly entail the impregnation, precipitation, and/or immobilization of nanoparticles on their supports. While convenient, such methods do not readily afford the ability to control collective ensemble-like... Foucher AC, Owen CJ, Shirman T, Aizenberg J, Kozinsky B, Stach EA. [In Situ Gas-Heating Atomic-Scale STEM Analysis of Au-Pd Nanoparticles at 1 Bar](/publication/situ-gas-heating-atomic-scale-stem-analysis-au-pd-nanoparticles-1-bar). Microscopy and Microanalysis. 2024;30:ozae044.834. doi:10.1093/mam/ozae044.834 Foucher AC, Owen CJ, Shirman T, Aizenberg J, Kozinsky B, Stach EA. [In Situ Gas-Heating Atomic-Scale STEM Analysis of Au-Pd Nanoparticles at 1 Bar](/publication/situ-gas-heating-atomic-scale-stem-analysis-au-pd-nanoparticles-1-bar). Microscopy and Microanalysis. 2024;30:ozae044.834. doi:10.1093/mam/ozae044.834 - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract Innovative bimetallic nanoparticles are impactful materials for heterogenous catalysis, as the synergy between two metals can be beneficial to increase activity, selectivity, and stability \[1, 2\]. For instance, it has been shown that Au-Pd nanoparticles... Bijl M, Lim KRG, Garg S, Nicolas NJ, Visser NL, Aizenberg M, van der Hoeven JES, Aizenberg J. [Controlling nanoparticle placement in Au/TiO inverse opal photocatalysts.](/publication/controlling-nanoparticle-placement-autio-inverse-opal-photocatalysts) Nanoscale. 2024;16(29):13867–13873. doi:10.1039/d4nr01200c Bijl M, Lim KRG, Garg S, Nicolas NJ, Visser NL, Aizenberg M, van der Hoeven JES, Aizenberg J. [Controlling nanoparticle placement in Au/TiO inverse opal photocatalysts.](/publication/controlling-nanoparticle-placement-autio-inverse-opal-photocatalysts) Nanoscale. 2024;16(29):13867–13873. doi:10.1039/d4nr01200c - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract Gold nanoparticle-loaded titania (Au/TiO) inverse opals are highly ordered three-dimensional photonic structures with enhanced photocatalytic properties. However, fine control over the placement of the Au nanoparticles in the inverse opal structures... Lim KRG, Kaiser SK, Wu H, Garg S, O’Connor CR, Reece C, Aizenberg M, Aizenberg J. [Deconvoluting the Individual Effects of Nanoparticle Proximity and Size in Thermocatalysis](/publication/deconvoluting-individual-effects-nanoparticle-proximity-and-size-thermocatalysis). ACS nano. 2024;18(24):15958–15969. doi:10.1021/acsnano.4c04193 Lim KRG, Kaiser SK, Wu H, Garg S, O’Connor CR, Reece C, Aizenberg M, Aizenberg J. [Deconvoluting the Individual Effects of Nanoparticle Proximity and Size in Thermocatalysis](/publication/deconvoluting-individual-effects-nanoparticle-proximity-and-size-thermocatalysis). ACS nano. 2024;18(24):15958–15969. doi:10.1021/acsnano.4c04193 - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract Nanoparticle (NP) size and proximity are two physical descriptors applicable to practically all NP-supported catalysts. However, with conventional catalyst design, independent variation of these descriptors to investigate their individual effects on... Lim KRG, Kaiser SK, Wu H, Garg S, Perich MP, Hoeven JE, Aizenberg M, Aizenberg J. [Nanoparticle proximity controls selectivity in benzaldehyde hydrogenation](/publication/nanoparticle-proximity-controls-selectivity-benzaldehyde-hydrogenation). Nature Catalysis. 2024;7(2):172–184,. doi:10.1038/s41929-023-01104-1 Lim KRG, Kaiser SK, Wu H, Garg S, Perich MP, Hoeven JE, Aizenberg M, Aizenberg J. [Nanoparticle proximity controls selectivity in benzaldehyde hydrogenation](/publication/nanoparticle-proximity-controls-selectivity-benzaldehyde-hydrogenation). Nature Catalysis. 2024;7(2):172–184,. doi:10.1038/s41929-023-01104-1 - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract Disentangling the effects of nanoparticle proximity and size on thermal catalytic performance is challenging with traditional synthetic methods. Here we adapt a modular raspberry-colloid-templating approach to tune the average interparticle distance of... Lee JD, Filie A, Wilson L, Nguyen K, Shirman T, Guan E, Luneau M, Aizenberg M, Aizenberg J, Madix RJ, et al. [Selective oxidation of linear alcohols: the promotional effect of water and inhibiting effect of carboxylates over dilute PdAu catalysts](/publication/selective-oxidation-linear-alcohols-promotional-effect-water-and-inhibiting-effect). J. Mater. Chem. A. 2024;12(23):13778–13791,. doi:10.1039/D4TA01383B Lee JD, Filie A, Wilson L, Nguyen K, Shirman T, Guan E, Luneau M, Aizenberg M, Aizenberg J, Madix RJ, et al. [Selective oxidation of linear alcohols: the promotional effect of water and inhibiting effect of carboxylates over dilute PdAu catalysts](/publication/selective-oxidation-linear-alcohols-promotional-effect-water-and-inhibiting-effect). J. Mater. Chem. A. 2024;12(23):13778–13791,. doi:10.1039/D4TA01383B - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract Dilute PdAu alloys are promising catalysts for selective oxidation with high activity and high selectivity. The promotional effect of Pd for selective alcohol oxidation is strongly dependent on the alkyl chain length. Whereas Pd substantially promotes the... ### 2023 Son G, Li Y, Shneidman AV, Han JH, Aizenberg M, Sautet P, Aizenberg J. [Facet-Dependence of Electron Storage in Gold-Decorated Titania Nanocrystals](/publication/facet-dependence-electron-storage-gold-decorated-titania-nanocrystals). Chemistry of Materials. 2023;35(22):9505–9516,. doi:10.1021/acs.chemmater.3c01252 Son G, Li Y, Shneidman AV, Han JH, Aizenberg M, Sautet P, Aizenberg J. [Facet-Dependence of Electron Storage in Gold-Decorated Titania Nanocrystals](/publication/facet-dependence-electron-storage-gold-decorated-titania-nanocrystals). Chemistry of Materials. 2023;35(22):9505–9516,. doi:10.1021/acs.chemmater.3c01252 - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract A variety of materials have been developed over the last two decades with the goal of extending the function of light-absorbing devices to low-light or nighttime conditions. Typically, this requires storage of photogenerated charges. The capacity of a...