Volume 12, Issue 7 p. 1853-1872
Review

In-situ Transmission Electron Microscope Techniques for Heterogeneous Catalysis

Bowen He

Bowen He

In-situ Center for Physical Sciences School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240 P.R. China

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Dr. Yixiao Zhang

Dr. Yixiao Zhang

In-situ Center for Physical Sciences School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240 P.R. China

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Prof. Xi Liu

Corresponding Author

Prof. Xi Liu

In-situ Center for Physical Sciences School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240 P.R. China

SynCat@Beijing, Synfuels China Technology Co.Ltd, Beijing, 101407 P.R. China

State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Taiyuan, 030001 P.R. China

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Prof. Liwei Chen

Corresponding Author

Prof. Liwei Chen

In-situ Center for Physical Sciences School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240 P.R. China

i-Lab, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics (SINANO), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123 P.R. China

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First published: 26 January 2020
Citations: 63

Graphical Abstract

Cooking with gas! Taking the gas-solid heterogeneous catalysis as an example, gas mixture can be introduced into the sample region of in-situ TEM during the imaging process. As a result, the kinetic surface evolution process of a catalyst can be monitored.

Abstract

The physicochemical properties of heterogeneous catalysts in static or inert environments often deviate greatly from the properties under in-situ or working conditions. To gain an insightful understanding of realistic catalyst properties and the corresponding catalytic mechanisms, it is essential to identify and rationalize changes in catalysts under reaction conditions. In recent years, in-situ transmission electron microscope (in-situ TEM) techniques have been increasingly developed, offering a unique approach to visualize the evolution of heterogeneous catalysis with ultra-high spatial resolution, good energy resolution and reasonable temporal resolution under controllable or even realistic catalytic conditions. In this review, we have summarized recent advances in the in-situ TEM analysis of heterogeneous catalysis, which suggests the great potential of this technique in this important field. Furthermore, technical challenges and possible solutions are discussed.