Advanced visualization strategies bridge the multidimensional complexity of technical catalysts

Elucidating the Distribution and Speciation of Boron and Cesium in BCsX Zeolite Catalysts for Styrene Production

“…For ease of handling, postsynthetic modifications applied in the synthesis (e.g. to introduce different metals) are typically performed on the shaped bodies, which, in turn, could significantly impact on the properties and effectiveness compared with the powder catalysts. In anticipation of a potential scaleup of these materials, we thus prepared CsX g and BCsX g from binder‐free commercial NaX granules (1.6–2.5 mm in diameter) by following an equivalent procedure to that used for the zeolite powders.…”

“…[10] Nonetheless, we note that,o nalarges cale,t hisp rocess needstobeoperated in afix-bed reactor, andtherefore,the catalystm ustb ep reparedi nt he form of millimeter-sized shaped bodies.F or ease of handling,p ostsyntheticm odificationsa ppliedint he synthesis(e.g. to introducedifferent metals)are typically performedo nthes hapedb odies, [20,21] which, in turn, coulds ignificantly impact on thep ropertiesa nd effectiveness compared with thep owderc atalysts.I na nticipationo fapotential scaleupo ft hese materials, we thus prepared CsX g and BCsX g from binder-free commercial NaX granules (1.6-2.5 mm in diameter) by following an equivalentp rocedure to that used fort he zeolite powders. Additionally,t oi nvestigatet he possibility of reducing the cesium content,amilder exchange procedure was applied, leadingt oB Cs L X g .F ull details of the synthesis are provided in the Experimental Section.…”

Nature-inspired optimization of hierarchical porous media for catalytic and separation processes

“…[60][61][62][63][64][65] Rational design should include all length scales, not only the nanoscale. This is no longer a distant dream, as increasing synthetic control over hierarchical porous materials architecture, together with sophisticated visualization methods to reveal the inner structure of (working) catalysts 66,67 opens up fresh opportunities for rational, multi-scale design, which should be informed by insights from theoretical methods and realistic multi-scale computational techniques. The range of reactions that would benefit from such an approach is huge, and includes, for example, deNO x , 58 alkylation, 68,69 hydrodemetallation, 70 autothermal reforming, 71 decomposition of organic dye molecules, 72,73 Fisher-Tropsch, 2,74,75 esterification 76 and epoxidation 77 reactions.…”

Understanding the gas transport in porous catalyst layers by using digital reconstruction techniques

“…Transmission electron tomography is commonly used to reconstruct local mesoporous structure of supporting material such as alumina, titania and hierarchical zeolites [30]. On the other hand, X-ray tomography and FIB-SEM are more suitable to reconstruct macroporous structure of coated layers or pellets [31 ]. Alternatively digital reconstruction can be based on the combination of structure characterization (e.g., 2D scanning and transmission microscopy) and generation of a virtual medium by stochastic or semi-deterministic methods.…”