High throughput operando studies using Fourier transform infrared imaging and Raman spectroscopy.

Area of Science:

• Chemical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Catalyst screening and characterization are crucial for developing new chemical processes.
• Traditional methods can be time-consuming, limiting the pace of catalyst discovery.
• Operando techniques provide real-time insights into catalyst behavior under reaction conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and build a novel high throughput operando (HTO) reactor.
• To integrate Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) imaging and Raman spectroscopy for simultaneous analysis.
• To demonstrate the reactor's performance using methanol partial oxidation on MoO3/SiO2 catalysts.

Main Methods:

• Development of a prototype HTO reactor combining FT-IR imaging and Raman spectroscopy.
• Utilized a focal plane array detector for high-speed FT-IR imaging (16,384 spectra per dataset).
• Designed and integrated six novel Raman probes for in-situ spectral collection.

Main Results:

• The HTO reactor enables simultaneous monitoring of catalyst activity and selectivity across multiple reaction channels.
• FT-IR spectral analysis provides quantitative results on reactant conversion and product selectivity.
• Demonstrated successful application to methanol partial oxidation, showcasing the system's capabilities.

Conclusions:

• The developed HTO reactor significantly enhances the efficiency of catalyst screening and characterization.
• The integrated spectroscopic approach offers comprehensive operando insights into catalytic reactions.
• This technology accelerates the discovery and optimization of novel catalytic materials.