In heterogeneous catalysis, the reaction occurs at the interface between the catalyst and the reactants, which are typically in different phases e.g., solid catalyst and gaseous reactants . The surface area of the catalyst plays a crucial role in determining the rate of reaction, as it directly affects the number of active sites available for the reactants to interact with the catalyst. A higher surface area typically leads to a higher rate of reaction, as more active sites are available for the reactants to adsorb, react, and desorb.Here are some specific examples from recent scientific research to support this:1. In a study by Wang et al. 2019 , the researchers investigated the effect of the surface area of palladium Pd nanoparticles supported on carbon nanotubes CNTs for the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene. They found that the catalyst with the highest surface area exhibited the highest activity, which they attributed to the increased number of active sites for the reaction.Reference: Wang, Y., Zhang, L., Wang, Y., & Zhang, Y. 2019 . Effect of Pd particle size on the catalytic performance of Pd/CNTs catalysts for nitrobenzene hydrogenation. Applied Surface Science, 478, 796-804.2. In another study by Chen et al. 2018 , the researchers synthesized mesoporous cobalt oxide Co3O4 catalysts with varying surface areas for the oxidation of carbon monoxide CO . They found that the catalyst with the highest surface area exhibited the best catalytic performance, which they attributed to the increased number of active sites and improved accessibility of the reactants to the catalyst surface.Reference: Chen, Y., Zhang, Y., Zhang, T., Ma, L., & Yuan, Z. 2018 . Mesoporous Co3O4 with controllable porosity: Synthesis, characterization and CO oxidation performance. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 256, 1-9.3. In a study by Li et al. 2017 , the researchers investigated the effect of the surface area of gold Au nanoparticles supported on ceria CeO2 for the low-temperature oxidation of carbon monoxide CO . They found that the catalyst with the highest surface area exhibited the highest activity, which they attributed to the increased number of active sites and improved interaction between the Au nanoparticles and the CeO2 support.Reference: Li, S., Wang, Y., Chen, Y., Wang, L., & Ma, C. 2017 . Gold nanoparticles supported on mesoporous CeO2: Correlation between surface properties and catalytic behavior for low-temperature CO oxidation. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 202, 683-694.These examples demonstrate that the surface area of the catalyst plays a significant role in determining the rate of reaction in heterogeneous catalysis. By increasing the surface area, more active sites are available for the reactants to interact with the catalyst, leading to a higher rate of reaction.