Mapping of Catalytic Reactions in Real Time

Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory have used Hummingbird Scientific in-situ gas cell TEM and X-Ray specimen holders to characterize heterogeneous catalytic reactions. By using correlated gas cell scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and X-ray microscopy and spectroscopy they were able to quantitatively characterize catalytic activity of supported Pt catalysts. The capability of the Hummingbird Scientific gas cell to be transferred between the TEM and X-Ray microscope allowed a variety of probes to characterize a model catalytic reaction. This method can be broadly applied to study  operando gas-reaction studies.

Reference: Y. Li, D. Zakharov, S. Zhao, R. Tappero, U. Jung, A. Elsen, Ph. Baumann, R.G. Nuzzo, E.A. Stach & A.I. Frenkel, “Complex structural dynamics of nanocatalysts revealed in Operando conditions by correlated imaging and spectroscopy probes”. Nature Communications (2015) Abstract