Distinguished iNANO Lecture: Watching Catalysts in Action

Senior Research Scientist Stig Helveg
Microscopy Research & Development, Haldor Topsøe A/S, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark

Watching Catalysts in Action

In recent years, electron microscopy has made significant progress for the study of nanoparticles at the atomic-scale. Advancements in electron optics have made electron microscopy capable of delivering images of nanoparticles with sub-Ångström resolution and single-atom sensitivity. Parallel developments of gas cells have made electron microscopy available for in situ observations of nanoparticles during exposure to reactive gas environments at pressures up to atmospheric levels and temperatures of up to several hundred centigrade. It is desirable to take advantage of these imaging technologies, because they unveil new, unique information about the reactivity and dynamics of nanoparticles in chemical meaningful environments and at the atomic-level. This talk will present such “live” observations of nanoparticles acting in catalytic reactions and demonstrate their benefits for the understanding of the catalytic functionality.