Direct visualization of active reaction sites on catalyst surfaces with stroboscopic environmental TEM

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25390078
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Thin film/Surface and interfacial physical properties
• Research Institution: Japan Fine Ceramics Center (2014-2015); Nagoya University (2013)
• Principal Investigator: Kawasaki Tadahiro 一般財団法人ファインセラミックスセンター, その他部局等, 研究員 (10372533)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 環境電子顕微鏡（ETEM） / 金ナノ触媒 / 反応サイト / 可視化 / 隔膜 / 環境セル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study is to determine directly the active reaction sites on the nanoparticulate catalyst surfaces by using a stroboscopic environmental transmission electron microscopy (ETEM) enabling to in-situ observations of materials even in gaseous environments.
We have successfully developed a new specimen holder having a co-axial structure, and also a gas-mixing system, though fabrication of a stroboscopic illumination system had to be deferred due to technical and financial problems. The developed ETEM have realized in-situ observations of nanoparticulate gold catalysts supported on TiO2 anatase during a propene epoxidation reaction. As a result, it was observed that the reaction products of a propene oxide appear as a liquid form at around the Au/ TiO2 interfaces just in a reaction condition. Therefore, we can successfully conclude that the reaction sites of the gold catalysts are the perimeter of the interface between the gold and the TiO2 substrate.

Free Research Field

電子顕微鏡学、応用物理学