Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2025
11:54
Growth and Electrostatic/chemical Properties of Metal/LaAlO3/SrTiO3 Heterostructures
Published on: February 8, 2018
10.3K
A Polycrystalline Pd Surface Studied by Two-Dimensional Surface Optical Reflectance during CO Oxidation: Bridging the
Sebastian Pfaff1, Alfred Larsson2, Dmytro Orlov3
1Combustion Research Facility, Sandia National Laboratories, 7011 East Ave, Livermore, California 94550, United States.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|December 18, 2023
Summary
This study introduces reflectance microscopy to analyze numerous catalytic surfaces simultaneously under realistic conditions. This technique helps bridge the materials gap by studying nanoparticle facets more effectively.
Area of Science:
- Catalysis
- Materials Science
- Surface Science
Background:
- Industrial catalysts feature nanoparticles with diverse facets crucial for reactions.
- Studying these facets under operating conditions is challenging.
- Current model systems (single crystals, polycrystals) have limitations in mimicking nanoparticle complexity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for studying a wide range of catalytically active surfaces simultaneously.
- To bridge the "materials gap" between model systems and industrial catalysts.
- To enable detailed surface analysis under industrially relevant conditions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized reflectance microscopy to examine multiple surfaces concurrently.
- Employed a palladium (Pd) polycrystal as a model system.
- Conducted an *operando* experiment to study CO oxidation.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated the ability to study numerous catalytically active surfaces simultaneously.
- Successfully applied the technique to CO oxidation on a Pd polycrystal.
- Visualized data by plotting reflectivity against surface orientation.
Conclusions:
- Reflectance microscopy offers a powerful tool for analyzing diverse catalytic surfaces.
- The developed visualization methods aid in understanding surface-dependent reactions.
- This approach is key to bridging the materials gap in catalysis research.
