Supported metal catalysts play a pivotal role for many reactions in industrial processes

including petroleum refining

environmental protection and materials synthesis. However

the active metal centers suffer from severe sintering under real working condition

which will subsequently lead to a loss of its activity. Therefore

the stability of supported catalysts becomes a critical issue to its catalytic application. In this review

the aggregation and stabilization mechanisms of supported metal catalyst were briefly discussed according to the two different aggregation models of metal particles

i.e.

Ostwald ripening and coalescence of smaller particles. Accordingly

the corresponding stabilization strategies

including physical methods based on encapsulation and chemical methods by forming chemical bonds

were introduced. The understanding of stabilization mechanism of supported metal catalyst would not only benefit for the development of new catalysts with promoted stability

but also provide theoretical guidance for the optimization of industrial catalysts.