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Chee SW, Lunkenbein T, Schlögl R, Roldán Cuenya B. Operando Electron Microscopy of Catalysts: The Missing Cornerstone in Heterogeneous Catalysis Research? Chem Rev 2023; 123:13374-13418. [PMID: 37967448 PMCID: PMC10722467 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Heterogeneous catalysis in thermal gas-phase and electrochemical liquid-phase chemical conversion plays an important role in our modern energy landscape. However, many of the structural features that drive efficient chemical energy conversion are still unknown. These features are, in general, highly distinct on the local scale and lack translational symmetry, and thus, they are difficult to capture without the required spatial and temporal resolution. Correlating these structures to their function will, conversely, allow us to disentangle irrelevant and relevant features, explore the entanglement of different local structures, and provide us with the necessary understanding to tailor novel catalyst systems with improved productivity. This critical review provides a summary of the still immature field of operando electron microscopy for thermal gas-phase and electrochemical liquid-phase reactions. It focuses on the complexity of investigating catalytic reactions and catalysts, progress in the field, and analysis. The forthcoming advances are discussed in view of correlative techniques, artificial intelligence in analysis, and novel reactor designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- See Wee Chee
- Department
of Interface Science, Fritz-Haber Institute
of the Max-Planck Society, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Lunkenbein
- Department
of Inorganic Chemistry, Fritz-Haber Institute
of the Max-Planck Society, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Schlögl
- Department
of Interface Science, Fritz-Haber Institute
of the Max-Planck Society, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Beatriz Roldán Cuenya
- Department
of Interface Science, Fritz-Haber Institute
of the Max-Planck Society, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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Shen M, Rackers WH, Sadtler B. Getting the Most Out of Fluorogenic Probes: Challenges and Opportunities in Using Single-Molecule Fluorescence to Image Electro- and Photocatalysis. CHEMICAL & BIOMEDICAL IMAGING 2023; 1:692-715. [PMID: 38037609 PMCID: PMC10685636 DOI: 10.1021/cbmi.3c00075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Single-molecule fluorescence microscopy enables the direct observation of individual reaction events at the surface of a catalyst. It has become a powerful tool to image in real time both intra- and interparticle heterogeneity among different nanoscale catalyst particles. Single-molecule fluorescence microscopy of heterogeneous catalysts relies on the detection of chemically activated fluorogenic probes that are converted from a nonfluorescent state into a highly fluorescent state through a reaction mediated at the catalyst surface. This review article describes challenges and opportunities in using such fluorogenic probes as proxies to develop structure-activity relationships in nanoscale electrocatalysts and photocatalysts. We compare single-molecule fluorescence microscopy to other microscopies for imaging catalysis in situ to highlight the distinct advantages and limitations of this technique. We describe correlative imaging between super-resolution activity maps obtained from multiple fluorogenic probes to understand the chemical origins behind spatial variations in activity that are frequently observed for nanoscale catalysts. Fluorogenic probes, originally developed for biological imaging, are introduced that can detect products such as carbon monoxide, nitrite, and ammonia, which are generated by electro- and photocatalysts for fuel production and environmental remediation. We conclude by describing how single-molecule imaging can provide mechanistic insights for a broader scope of catalytic systems, such as single-atom catalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meikun Shen
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, United States
| | - William H. Rackers
- Department
of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
| | - Bryce Sadtler
- Department
of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
- Institute
of Materials Science & Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
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Qu J, Sui M, Li R. Recent advances in in-situ transmission electron microscopy techniques for heterogeneous catalysis. iScience 2023; 26:107072. [PMID: 37534164 PMCID: PMC10391733 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The process of heterogeneous catalytic reaction under working conditions has long been considered a "black box", which is mainly because of the difficulties in directly characterizing the structural changes of catalysts at the atomic level during catalytic reactions. The development of in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques offers opportunities for introducing a realistic chemical reaction environment in TEM, making it possible to uncover the mystery of catalytic reactions. In this article, we present a comprehensive overview of the application of in situ TEM techniques in heterogeneous catalysis, highlighting its utility for observing gas-solid and liquid-solid reactions during thermal catalysis, electrocatalysis, and photocatalysis. in situ TEM has a unique advantage in revealing the complex structural changes of catalysts during chemical reactions. Revealing the real-time dynamic structure during reaction processes is crucial for understanding the intricate relationship between catalyst structure and its catalytic performance. Finally, we present a perspective on the future challenges and opportunities of in situ TEM in heterogeneous catalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangshan Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, The Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM-2011), Dalian 116023, China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Manling Sui
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Microstructure and Properties of Solids, Faculty of Materials and Manufacturing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Rengui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, The Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM-2011), Dalian 116023, China
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Kang B, Vincent JL, Lee Y, Ke L, Crozier PA, Zhu Q. Modeling surface spin polarization on ceria-supported Pt nanoparticles. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2022; 34:255002. [PMID: 35354123 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/ac62a3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we employ density functional theory simulations to investigate possible spin polarization of CeO2-(111) surface and its impact on the interactions between a ceria support and Pt nanoparticles. With a Gaussian type orbital basis, our simulations suggest that the CeO2-(111) surface exhibits a robust surface spin polarization due to the internal charge transfer between atomic Ce and O layers. In turn, it can lower the surface oxygen vacancy formation energy and enhance the oxide reducibility. We show that the inclusion of spin polarization can significantly reduce the major activation barrier in the proposed reaction pathway of CO oxidation on ceria-supported Pt nanoparticles. For metal-support interactions, surface spin polarization enhances the bonding between Pt nanoparticles and ceria surface oxygen, while CO adsorption on Pt nanoparticles weakens the interfacial interaction regardless of spin polarization. However, the stable surface spin polarization can only be found in the simulations based on the Gaussian type orbital basis. Given the potential importance in the design of future high-performance catalysts, our present study suggests a pressing need to examine the surface ferromagnetism of transition metal oxides in both experiment and theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byungkyun Kang
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, United States of America
| | - Joshua L Vincent
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport, and Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, United States of America
| | - Yongbin Lee
- Ames Laboratory, US Department of Energy, Ames, IA 50011, United States of America
| | - Liqin Ke
- Ames Laboratory, US Department of Energy, Ames, IA 50011, United States of America
| | - Peter A Crozier
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport, and Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, United States of America
| | - Qiang Zhu
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, United States of America
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Ni J, Shi S, Zhang C, Fang B, Wang X, Lin J, Liang S, Lin B, Jiang L. Enhanced catalytic performance of the carbon-supported Ru ammonia synthesis catalyst by an introduction of oxygen functional groups via gas-phase oxidation. J Catal 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcat.2022.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Stroboscopic operando spectroscopy of the dynamics in heterogeneous catalysis by event-averaging. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6117. [PMID: 34675205 PMCID: PMC8531341 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26372-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterogeneous catalyst surfaces are dynamic entities that respond rapidly to changes in their local gas environment, and the dynamics of the response is a decisive factor for the catalysts’ action and activity. Few probes are able to map catalyst structure and local gas environment simultaneously under reaction conditions at the timescales of the dynamic changes. Here we use the CO oxidation reaction and a Pd(100) model catalyst to demonstrate how such studies can be performed by time-resolved ambient pressure photoelectron spectroscopy. Central elements of the method are cyclic gas pulsing and software-based event-averaging by image recognition of spectral features. A key finding is that at 3.2 mbar total pressure a metallic, predominantly CO-covered metallic surface turns highly active for a few seconds once the O2:CO ratio becomes high enough to lift the CO poisoning effect before mass transport limitations triggers formation of a √5 oxide. To follow in situ and in real time how catalyst surfaces respond to gas composition changes is a challenge. This study reports on an eventaveraging method, based on cyclic gas pulsing and software-based image recognition, that overcomes the challenge for large photoelectron spectroscopy datasets.
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Atomic level fluxional behavior and activity of CeO 2-supported Pt catalysts for CO oxidation. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5789. [PMID: 34608153 PMCID: PMC8490411 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26047-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Reducible oxides are widely used catalyst supports that can increase oxidation reaction rates by transferring lattice oxygen at the metal-support interface. There are many outstanding questions regarding the atomic-scale dynamic meta-stability (i.e., fluxional behavior) of the interface during catalysis. Here, we employ aberration-corrected operando electron microscopy to visualize the structural dynamics occurring at and near Pt/CeO2 interfaces during CO oxidation. We show that the catalytic turnover frequency correlates with fluxional behavior that (a) destabilizes the supported Pt particle, (b) marks an enhanced rate of oxygen vacancy creation and annihilation, and (c) leads to increased strain and reduction in the CeO2 support surface. Overall, the results implicate the interfacial Pt-O-Ce bonds anchoring the Pt to the support as being involved also in the catalytically-driven oxygen transfer process, and they suggest that oxygen reduction takes place on the highly reduced CeO2 surface before migrating to the interfacial perimeter for reaction with CO.
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