Towards nanoscale 3D imaging of working catalyst nanoparticles, 2014

This proposal is aiming at developing new techniques for studying functional materials such as catalysts at their working conditions. Rational design of catalyst nanomaterials and the ability to identify and observe the active sites while functioning have been highlighted as key barriers for the future design of catalyst materials. While a wide range of techniques are routinely being used to characterise catalyst materials, only a limited few give direct information at reaction conditions relevant to industrial processes (Weckhuysen 2009). Recent advances in methods utilising synchrotron radiation open for unprecedented opportunities to study the electronic and structural properties of nanostructured catalysts and to actually "see" these catalysts working in a realistic environment. In this context, the proposed project is especially targeting methods development for in situ characterization of catalysts, with characterisation of bimetallic core-shell nanoparticles as chosen model system.