Complex structural dynamics of nanocatalysts revealed in Operando conditions by correlated imaging and spectroscopy probes
- Yeshiva Univ., New York, NY (United States)
- Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN)
- Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN); Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL (United States)
- Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Photon Sciences Division
- Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL (United States)
- Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL (United States); KTH Royal Inst. of Technology, Stockholm (Sweden)
Understanding how heterogeneous catalysts change size, shape and structure during chemical reactions is limited by the paucity of methods for studying catalytic ensembles in working state, that is, in operando conditions. Here by a correlated use of synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy in operando conditions, we quantitatively describe the complex structural dynamics of supported Pt catalysts exhibited during an exemplary catalytic reaction—ethylene hydrogenation. This work exploits a microfabricated catalytic reactor compatible with both probes. The results demonstrate dynamic transformations of the ensemble of Pt clusters that spans a broad size range throughout changing reaction conditions. Lastly, this method is generalizable to quantitative operando studies of complex systems using a wide variety of X-ray and electron-based experimental probes.
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0012704; FG02-03ER15476; FG02-05ER15688
- OSTI ID:
- 1228968
- Report Number(s):
- BNL-111043-2015-JA
- Journal Information:
- Nature Communications, Vol. 6; ISSN 2041-1723
- Publisher:
- Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Web of Science
Similar Records
Nanoalloy catalysts inside fuel cells: An atomic-level perspective on the functionality by combined in operando x-ray spectroscopy and total scattering
“Inverting” X-ray Absorption Spectra of Catalysts by Machine Learning in Search for Activity Descriptors