Interrogating Solid Catalysts Using (In Situ) Diffuse Reflectance UV-Visible Spectroscopy

This webinar aims to demonstrate how UV-visible spectroscopy can be used as a powerful tool to understand solid catalysts, specifically the class of supported oxide catalysts. Supported oxides consist of an active oxide phase supported on a carrier particle, often of alumina or silica. These catalysts are used extensively in the chemical industry and in pollution abatement. These materials also have electronic spectra (e.g. from UV-visible spectroscopy) that are very sensitive to the local structure, oxidation state, and chemical environment of the catalytic oxide component.

UV-visible spectroscopy does not require crystalline material, and research-grade spectrophotometers are more than sufficiently sensitive to detect very low loadings of oxides on the carrier particles or to observe small changes to the structure. Using a praying mantis accessory, we provide some examples of how the UV-visible spectra of iron, copper, zirconium, titanium, manganese, and other oxides are key to understanding their catalytic activity. In some cases, we can also utilize an in situ reactor to understand how the structure of the active oxide changes at high temperatures and with reactive gases.