Correlating Catalyst Structure and Activity at the Nanoscale

Abstract

Heterogeneous catalysts are commonly applied to enhance chemical reactions. Their performance is largely determined by catalyst structure and composition. These properties are however intrinsically variable at the nanoscale. Traditional bulk-scale characterization tools often fail to capture the structure-activity relationship at this scale. The development of fluorescence based assays has enabled catalytic activity mapping at the level of single catalytic turnovers, allowing catalyst activity to be investigated beyond the single particle level. Nonetheless, interpretation of these insights remains challenging without matching local structural information. This has resulted in increased efforts to develop approaches that correlate super-resolution fluorescence with electron microscopy. In this focus review, a concise overview of currently available approaches is provided, followed by some case studies in which correlative nanoscale structure-activity investigations of (photo)catalyst materials were performed.

Super-resolution microscopy as a powerful tool to study complex synthetic materials

“…Electronic devices and catalytic devices have been extensivecly reviewed elsewhere 15,16 , while this review will focus on the use of super-resolution to image biomaterials in the biological environment. Altogether this review will provide a comprehensive picture of the use of super-resolution imaging in the chemistry field and offer a guide towards the choice of the proper imaging methods to address a scientific question in the material arena.…”

Computationally-efficient spatiotemporal correlation analysis super-resolves anomalous diffusion

“…The application of fcsSOFI to simulations of fibrinogen diffusing in various matrix densities of polyacrylamide revealed more densely packed pores increased subdiffusive effects, while demonstrating the expanded biophysical scope of fcsSOFI. We hope that the updates in speed, scope, and usability allow a more diverse group of researchers to incorporate fcsSOFI into their research in topics like the extracellular matrix [5, 47,48], chromatographic media [4,49], biofilms [50], cell membranes and cytosol [51,52], catalysis [53,54], and polymers [55]. ms integration protein intens program [56]…”

Copper Nanospheres Self‐Propelled into Continuums of Iron Nanoclusters to Fabricate and Engineer Two‐Dimensional Heterometallic Arrays under an External Magnetic Field

“…These two effects have a great influence on the total energy of a system and the condition of its final structure and shape. [38] Because a decrease in the particle size of materials increases the number of atoms located at the surface, the surface atoms play a crucial role in the energy minimization and, consequently, in the stabilization of a system. It seems that different catalytic activity of Cu-based bimetallic compounds (Table 2, entries 4-8) in the coupling reaction may be due to different surface energy and charge distributions of particles with various morphologies (Figures 1, 2) and particle sizes (Figure 4).…”