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Updated: Jun 21, 2025

Methods of Ex Situ and In Situ Investigations of Structural Transformations: The Case of Crystallization of Metallic Glasses
Published on: June 7, 2018
Structure evolution and specific effects for the catalysis of atomically ordered intermetallic compounds
Lei Wang1, Zequan Ma1, Jia Xue1
1School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China. leiwang88@yzu.edu.cn.
Abstract:
Atomically ordered intermetallic compounds (IMCs) have been extensively studied for exploring catalysts with high activity, selectivity, and longevity. Compared to random alloys, IMCs present a more pronounced geometric and electronic effect with desirable catalytic performance. Their well-defined structure makes IMCs ideal model catalysts for studying the catalytic mechanism. This review focuses especially on elemental composition, electron transfer, and structure/phase evolution under high temperature treatment conditions, providing direct evidence for the migration and rearrangement of metal atoms through electron microscopy. We then present the outstanding applications of IMCs in growing single-walled nanotubes, hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactions, and electrocatalysis from the perspective of electronic, geometric, strain, and bifunctional effects of ordered IMCs. Finally, the current obstacles associated with the use of in situ techniques are proposed, as well as future research possibilities.
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