Seeing Atomic Dynamics of Nanocatalysts during Reactions

Heterogeneous catalysis advances sustainable energy by enabling a cleaner environment, food, an array of industrial products, and climate change mitigation. Heterogeneous catalytic reactions often occur with the combination of gases, liquids, and solids. During reactions, catalysts change their structure as they are inherently dynamic in nature. Thus, in-situ characterization that captures dynamic catalytic phenomena during reactions is essential. In-situ gas or liquid environmental transmission electron microscopy (TEM) which enables direct imaging of atomic dynamics in relevant environments has attracted significant attention. Considerable advances have been made in recent years such as in-situ atomic scale imaging, better control of reaction environment, imaging of beam-sensitive materials, solid-liquid, solid-gas interfaces, control of electrocatalytic reactions for in-situ TEM, etc.

The goal of this Research Topic is to highlight the latest achievements in the “development and applications of in-situ gas or liquid environmental TEM for catalysis research." Multimodal characterization with correlative in-situ TEM and in-situ x-ray methods will also be included. We welcome original research, reviews, and perspectives on catalyst dynamics, such as surface and subsurface changes, defects or boundary motion, phase transformations, interfacial evolution and dynamics, and advances on the structure and catalytic performance relationship. Additionally, limitations and future opportunities of the in-situ atomic scale characterization techniques, especially electrochemical liquid cell TEM, in probing materials structure and functionalities under operando conditions will also be highlighted.

This Research Topic will unveil atomic dynamics of nanocatalysts using various approaches, such as gas cell TEM, liquid phase TEM, and multimodal characterization using TEM and x-ray methods. Various scientific problems, different materials systems, or chemical reactions (thermal catalysis, electrocatalysis, or others) will be included. Compared to gas cell TEM, most studies using electrochemical liquid cell TEM have limited spatial resolution. Thus, efforts to improve the in-situ high resolution imaging capability using electrochemical liquid cell TEM is valuable. Finally, technical progresses to enhance resolution using electrochemical liquid cell TEM will be included.

Keywords: gas environmental TEM, electrochemical liquid cell TEM, multimodal characterization, catalysis, electrocatalysis, atomic dynamics, solid-liquid-gas interfaces, solid-liquid interfaces, liquid cell.

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