Ethylene oxidation by Ag catalysts has been extensively investigated over the past few decades, but many key fundamental issues about this important catalytic system are still unresolved. This overview of the selective oxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide by Ag catalysts critically examines the experimental and theoretical literature of this complex catalytic system: (i) the surface chemistry of silver catalysts (single crystal, powder/foil, and supported Ag/α-Al₂O₃), (ii) the role of promoters, (iii) the reaction kinetics, (iv) the reaction mechanism, (v) density functional theory (DFT), and (vi) microkinetic modeling. Only in the past few years have the modern catalysis research tools of in situ/operando spectroscopy and DFT calculations been applied to begin establishing fundamental structure–activity/selectivity relationships. This overview of the ethylene oxidation reaction by Ag catalysts covers what is known and what issues still need to be determined to advance the rational design of this important catalytic system.

中文翻译：

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Ag催化剂将乙烯选择性氧化为环氧乙烷概述

在过去的几十年中，已经广泛地研究了用Ag催化剂氧化乙烯的方法，但是有关该重要催化体系的许多关键基本问题仍未解决。通过Ag催化剂将乙烯选择性氧化为环氧乙烷的概述全面审查了该复杂催化体系的实验和理论文献：（i）银催化剂的表面化学性质（单晶，粉末/箔和负载型Ag /α- Al ₂ O ₃），（ii）促进剂的作用，（iii）反应动力学，（iv）反应机理，（v）密度泛函理论（DFT）和（vi）微动力学建模。仅在过去的几年中，才使用原位/操作光谱和DFT计算的现代催化研究工具开始建立基本的结构-活性/选择性关系。通过Ag催化剂进行的乙烯氧化反应的概述涵盖了已知的知识和仍需确定哪些问题才能推进这一重要催化系统的合理设计。