Themed collection Synchrotron Radiation Techniques in Catalytic Science
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Synchrotron radiation techniques in catalytic science
This themed issue includes a collection of articles on Synchrotron Radiation Techniques in Catalytic Science.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 18745-18746
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CP90186E
Soft XAS as an in situ technique for the study of heterogeneous catalysts
Perspectives on the use of soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy as a tool to rationally develop new heterogeneous catalysts.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 18747-18756
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CP00657B
Enantiospecificity in achiral zeolites for asymmetric catalysis
We highlight the recent study in using chiral and achiral porous materials for the potential applications in asymmetric catalysis.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 18757-18764
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CP00262C
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In situ XAFS of acid-resilient iridate pyrochlore oxygen evolution electrocatalysts under operating conditions
Electrocatalytic water splitting using iridate pyrochlores studied using synchrotron spectroscopy reveals a response from all iridium in the conducting oxide.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 18770-18773
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CP01378A
Site-dependent selectivity in oxidation reactions on single Pt nanoparticles
Site-dependent selectivity in oxidation reactions on Pt nanoparticles was identified by conducting IR nanospectroscopy measurements while using allyl-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbenes (allyl-NHCs) as probe molecules.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 18765-18769
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CP00642D
A surface sensitive hard X-ray spectroscopic method applied to observe the surface layer reduction reaction of Co oxide to Co metal
In situ TREXS captures surface reactions.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 24974-24977
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CP02155E
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Operando potassium K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy: investigating potassium catalysts during soot oxidation
Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy of potassium catalysts during soot oxidation.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 18976-18988
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CP01227K
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
The electronic structure, surface properties, and in situ N2O decomposition of mechanochemically synthesised LaMnO3
This study reports the importance of advanced synchrotron techniques for understanding the effect of milling atmosphere, either air or argon, on mechanochemically prepared LaMnO3 and the catalytic performance towards N2O decomposition (deN2O).
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 18774-18787
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CP00793E
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
In situ X-ray diffraction computed tomography studies examining the thermal and chemical stabilities of working Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3−δ membranes during oxidative coupling of methane
In situ XRD-CT and post-reaction SEM/EDX were used to study the solid-state chemistry and structural changes of Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3−δ membrane reactors during the oxidative coupling of methane reaction.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 18964-18975
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CP02144J
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
XAS investigation of silica aerogel supported cobalt rhenium catalysts for ammonia decomposition
In situ XAS applied to a silica supported CoRe catalyst for ammonia decomposition shows the importance of the reduced bimetallic phase.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 18932-18949
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CP00558D
EXAFS wavelet transform analysis of Cu-MOR zeolites for the direct methane to methanol conversion
An innovative approach in EXAFS analysis and fitting using wavelet transforms reveals local structure and nuclearity of Cu-species in zeolites.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 18950-18963
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CP01257B
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Al-doped Fe2O3 as a support for molybdenum oxide methanol oxidation catalysts
Schematic of the proposed structure for a high Al doped haematite sample with MoOx overlayers.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 18911-18918
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CP01192D
Visualization and understanding of the degradation behaviors of a PEFC Pt/C cathode electrocatalyst using a multi-analysis system combining time-resolved quick XAFS, three-dimensional XAFS-CT, and same-view nano-XAFS/STEM-EDS techniques
We developed a multi-analysis system that can measure in situ time-resolved quick XAFS and in situ three-dimensional XAFS-CT in the same area of a cathode electrocatalyst layer in a membrane-electrode assembly of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 18919-18931
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CP01356K
CuO/La0.5Sr0.5CoO3: precursor of efficient NO reduction catalyst studied by operando high energy X-ray diffraction under three-way catalytic conditions
High energy XRD was used to demonstrate that Cu(0)/brownmillerite is the active phase of a CuO/LSCO material under reaction conditions of TWC.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 18798-18805
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CP01064B
Neural network assisted analysis of bimetallic nanocatalysts using X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy
Trained neural networks are used to extract the first partial coordination numbers from XANES spectra. In bimetallic nanoparticles, the four local structure descriptors provide rich information on structural motifs.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 18902-18910
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CP02098B
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Temperature reversible synergistic formation of cerium oxyhydride and Au hydride: a combined XAS and XPDF study
In situ studies on the physical and chemical properties of the interaction with hydrogen with a ceria coated alumina supported Au catalyst using fluorescence detection X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy and X-ray total scattering.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 18882-18890
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CP00455C
Development of photochemical and electrochemical cells for operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy during photocatalytic and electrocatalytic reactions
Photochemical and electrochemical cells were developed and successfully tested for operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements under realistic reaction conditions.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 18891-18901
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CP00654H
Model building analysis – a novel method for statistical evaluation of Pt L3-edge EXAFS data to unravel the structure of Pt-alloy nanoparticles for the oxygen reduction reaction on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite
We have developed a novel analytical method combining model building and statistical evaluation to determine the structure of multimetallic nanoparticles from EXAFS of a single adsorption edge.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 18815-18823
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9CP06891K
Elucidating the mechanism of the CO2 methanation reaction over Ni–Fe hydrotalcite-derived catalysts via surface-sensitive in situ XPS and NEXAFS
In situ surface sensitive XPS and NEXAFS clarify the promotion effect of Fe in Ni–Fe/hydrotalcite-derived catalysts for the CO2 methanation reaction.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 18788-18797
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CP00622J
An in situ XAS study of high surface-area IrO2 produced by the polymeric precursor synthesis
In situ XAS measurements show that iridium oxide electrocatalysts manufactured by the polymeric precursor synthesis method contain a significant fraction of elemental iridium metal and that potential cycling only oxidises a thin layer of the elemental component of the composite.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 18868-18881
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CP00217H
Identifying the catalyst chemical state and adsorbed species during methanol conversion on copper using ambient pressure X-ray spectroscopies
A model Cu catalyst surface oxidises to Cu2O when methanol, oxygen and water vapour are all present during methanol conversion.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 18806-18814
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CP00347F
Exploring the origins of crystallisation kinetics in hierarchical materials using in situ X-ray diffraction and pair distribution function analysis
Novel in situ synchrotron total scattering measurements probe the assembly of primary building units into templated hierarchically porous aluminophosphate catalysts, providing unique insights to understanding crystallisation kinetics.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 18860-18867
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CP00670J
Quick-EXAFS and Raman monitoring of activation, reaction and deactivation of NiCu catalysts obtained from hydrotalcite-like precursors
MCR-ALS analysis of Quick-EXAFS combined to Raman provide insight into activation/reactivity and deactivation of NiCu-catalysts used for Ethanol Steam Reforming.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 18835-18848
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CP00380H
Effects of crystal size on methanol to hydrocarbon conversion over single crystals of ZSM-5 studied by synchrotron infrared microspectroscopy
The induction period for alkene formation from methanol in single crystals of HZSM-5 decreases with decreasing crystal size and increasing temperature and hydrocarbon pool species are formed almost instantaneously at higher temperatures.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 18849-18859
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CP00704H
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Identification of the key steps in the self-assembly of homogeneous gold metal nanoparticles produced using inverse micelles
The self-assembly of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) using polymer-encapsulated inverse micelles was studied using a set of advanced X-ray techniques (i.e. XAFS, SAXS) in addition to DLS, UV-vis spectroscopy and TEM.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 18824-18834
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9CP03473K
About this collection
Techniques employing Synchrotron Radiation (SR) have had a transformative effect on catalytic science. The unique properties of SR have led to entirely new opportunities in diffraction, spectroscopy, small angle scattering and tomographical studies of catalytic materials. Moreover, SR has been crucial in enabling the growth of in situ experimental studies of catalytic processes under realistic operating conditions. The field impacts on all areas of catalytic science, including heterogeneous, homogeneous, biocatalysis and chemical engineering aspects.
This themed collection will present a survey of the present state-of-the-art in the field with papers from leading scientists in catalytic science worldwide.
Guest Edited by: Richard Catlow (University College London and University of Cardiff), Diego Gianolio (Diamond Light Source), Peter Wells (University of Southampton)