Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Overview of Microscopy Techniques

Overview of Microscopy Techniques

The early pioneers of microscopy opened a window into the invisible world of microorganisms. In 1830, Joseph Jackson Lister created an essentially modern light microscope. The 20th century saw the development of microscopes that leveraged nonvisible light, such as fluorescence microscopy that uses an ultraviolet light source and electron microscopy that uses short-wavelength electron beams. These advances significantly improved magnification, image resolution, and contrast. By comparison, the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Nanoalloy structures and catalysis part 1: general discussion.

Faraday discussions·2022

Same author

Nanoalloy magnetic and optical properties, applications and structures: general discussion.

Faraday discussions·2022

Same author

Nanoalloy structures and catalysis part 2: general discussion.

Faraday discussions·2022

Same author

Advancing Critical Chemical Processes for a Sustainable Future: Challenges for Industry and the Max Planck-Cardiff Centre on the Fundamentals of Heterogeneous Catalysis (FUNCAT).

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2022

Same author

Methanol synthesis from CO<sub>2</sub> and H<sub>2</sub> using supported Pd alloy catalysts.

Faraday discussions·2022

Same author

The Catalytic Reactivity of Alloys; Ethanol and Formic Acid Decomposition on Cu-Pd(110).

The journal of physical chemistry. C, Nanomaterials and interfaces·2022

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 13, 2026

All-electronic Nanosecond-resolved Scanning Tunneling Microscopy: Facilitating the Investigation of Single Dopant Charge Dynamics

All-electronic Nanosecond-resolved Scanning Tunneling Microscopy: Facilitating the Investigation of Single Dopant Charge Dynamics

Published on: January 19, 2018

Resolving catalytic phenomena with scanning tunnelling microscopy.

Michael Bowker¹

¹Wolfson Nanoscience Laboratory, School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK. bowkerm@cf.ac.uk

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP

|July 7, 2007

Summary

Scanning tunnelling microscopy reveals nanoparticle catalyst behavior. It visualizes sintering via Ostwald ripening, direct oxygen spillover, and strong metal-support interactions caused by alloy layer formation.

More Related Videos

Microscopic Visualization of Porous Nanographenes Synthesized through a Combination of Solution and On-Surface Chemistry

Microscopic Visualization of Porous Nanographenes Synthesized through a Combination of Solution and On-Surface Chemistry

Published on: March 4, 2021

Hand Controlled Manipulation of Single Molecules via a Scanning Probe Microscope with a 3D Virtual Reality Interface

Hand Controlled Manipulation of Single Molecules via a Scanning Probe Microscope with a 3D Virtual Reality Interface

Published on: October 2, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 13, 2026

All-electronic Nanosecond-resolved Scanning Tunneling Microscopy: Facilitating the Investigation of Single Dopant Charge Dynamics

All-electronic Nanosecond-resolved Scanning Tunneling Microscopy: Facilitating the Investigation of Single Dopant Charge Dynamics

Published on: January 19, 2018

Microscopic Visualization of Porous Nanographenes Synthesized through a Combination of Solution and On-Surface Chemistry

Microscopic Visualization of Porous Nanographenes Synthesized through a Combination of Solution and On-Surface Chemistry

Published on: March 4, 2021

Hand Controlled Manipulation of Single Molecules via a Scanning Probe Microscope with a 3D Virtual Reality Interface

Hand Controlled Manipulation of Single Molecules via a Scanning Probe Microscope with a 3D Virtual Reality Interface

Published on: October 2, 2016

Area of Science:

Surface science
Catalysis
Nanoparticle science

Background:

Scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) enables atomic-scale investigation of surface reactions.
Model catalysts with nanoparticulate surfaces can be fabricated and imaged using surface science techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

To apply STM to understand key catalytic processes at the atomic level.
To investigate sintering, spillover, and strong metal-support interactions (SMSI) in model nanoparticulate catalysts.

Main Methods:

Utilizing surface science methodology to fabricate and image model nanoparticulate catalyst surfaces.
Employing atomically-resolving Scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) to observe dynamic processes.

Main Results:

Sintering observed as surface-mediated Ostwald ripening, where larger nanoparticles grow at the expense of smaller ones.
Direct imaging of oxygen spillover from Pd nanoparticles to a titania support, leading to encapsulation.
Strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) identified as the formation of a Pd-Ti alloy layer, reducing surface reactivity.

Conclusions:

STM provides atomic-level insights into complex catalytic phenomena.
Understanding these processes is crucial for designing efficient catalysts.
The study elucidates mechanisms of sintering, spillover, and SMSI in nanoparticulate systems.