The search for more effective as well as novel heterogeneous catalysts would benefit when we could bridge the molecular world with the macroscopic world, which involves catalyst activity, selectivity and stability. Such detailed information can be realized if we would have access to a very powerful camera probing the dynamics of a solid catalyst when it is at work. By shooting molecular movies of an active catalytic solid down to the level of single atoms and molecules we could start to understand how solid catalysts really work, but also how they evolve as a function of their lifetime. In other words, can we probe the birth, life and death of a solid catalyst under true reaction conditions, i.e, at elevated temperature and temperatures and in the presence of a gas and/or liquid. This is the field of operando spectroscopy and microscopy. Recent breakthroughs in chemical imaging techniques, based on optical, electron and X-ray methods, demonstrate that such molecular movie concept is within reach. This lecture discusses the recent advances in operando spectroscopy and microscopy of heterogeneous solids at different length scales, starting from single molecules and single atoms up to the level of individual catalyst particles. Two showcases will be discussed in detail; the first one will be focusing on fossil resources (i.e., the catalytic cracking of crude oil), while the other one involves the activation of carbon dioxide, thereby exploring not only to make methane (i.e., the classical Sabatier reaction), but also other chemical building blocks (e.g., higher hydrocarbons). In other words, how can we control the hydrogenation vs. the carbon-carbon coupling reactions by better understanding the metal-promotor-support interactions in CO<sub>2</sub> activation.

<i>Operando</i> spectroscopy to probe the dynamic structural evolution of a solid catalyst

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.

Operando spectroscopy to probe the dynamic structural evolution of a solid catalyst