Catalysts in the Spotlight
Catalysts are enablers in the world of chemistry. The synthesis of many chemicals requires the use of a catalyst. Gas processing is often via the use of a catalyst, e.g., in a car exhaust to reduce pollutant gases in the atmosphere. Catalysts are at the heart of the energy revolution for the production and use of hydrogen. Catalyst materials are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and our analytical methods are used both to research new materials and to control catalyst production.
On our website we have a page dedicated to characterization of catalysts and we invite you to take a look. But, if you can, why not come and talk to us in person! This year we have a focus on catalyst materials and for one of our activities we’ll be at PREPA 13 which is the 13th International Symposium on “Scientific bases for the preparation of Heterogeneous catalysts”. We have a stand and will be giving a scientific presentation. Come and say hello, we’d love to meet you!
Did you know that for a comprehensive characterization of powder catalysts we can help you with more than one analytical tool? Metal loading can be addressed by XRF using our benchtop spectrometers from the Epsilon Range. Highly accurate size analysis for particles in the range between 10 nm and 3500 µm can be performed within seconds with our state-of-the-art laser diffractometer Mastersizer 3000. Smaller particles can be analyzed in terms of size and zeta potential with our DLS/ELS instruments from the Zetasizer Advance Family. A higher resolution of the particle size distribution is now possible thanks to our patented MADLS® technology available in the Zetasizer Advance Ultra.
Additionally, we are thrilled to introduce our cutting-edge iCore + 1Der detector combination on the Empyrean diffractometer, offering unparalleled performance in fluorescence suppression. Ask us to explain how the superior energy resolution (~ 340 eV) of the 1Der detector enables dramatic data improvements in crystallography! Copper radiation induces fluorescence when it interacts with 3d transition metals such as iron, chromium, and cobalt, which are widely used in the synthesis of heterogeneous catalysts. Any residual fluorescence arising from copper or nickel in the sample can be efficiently suppressed by adding the automated iCore or the Bragg-BrentanoHD incident beam PreFIX optics into the beam path. Both modules generate nearly monochromatic Cu-Kα radiation with a high energy resolution of 450 eV while suppressing Kβ radiation to less than 0.2 % of the characteristic Cu-Kα radiation. The built-in mirror enhances the intensity by 50 % compared to classical fixed slit optics with a beta filter. This state-of-the-art combination results in a significant improvement in the signal-to-background ratio, by a factor of at least 50, crucial for the determination of minor phases. These remarkable advantages extend even further to in situ studies conducted in dedicated chambers like the XRK 900. By leveraging the benefits of our advanced optics and instrumentation, researchers can achieve precise and reliable results in real-time, facilitating breakthroughs in catalyst characterization. Please visit our website Empyrean XRD with the 1Der detector for more information. High-quality data with unique precision is not only constrained to the Empyrean platform. Our compact diffractometer, the Aeris, has revolutionized the structural analysis of catalysts and thin films. We recommend our informative webinar titled “How does a compact XRD like Aeris serve your research needs?” to learn more about its unique features. You can see the webinar here.
Finally… if you are Interested in metal-free supports? Carbon materials have received great attention in the field due to the possibilities of tailoring the surface properties, which are decisive to control the dispersion of supported metal nanostructures. This upcoming webinar “Ask an Expert! – Selective synthesis of carbon nanorings via asymmetric intramicellar phase-transition-induced tip-to-tip” gives insight into the selective synthesis of carbon nanorings. You can register for the webinar here.
There is so much to say about catalysts, it’s hard to stop talking about them.