Understanding bi-metallic catalysts
Johnson Matthey, the University of Reading, and Diamond Light Source used in situ NAP-XPS to study PdPt catalysts for methane conversion—advancing cleaner natural gas engine technologies.
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Catalysis
Research Area
How we support the Catalysis industry
Catalysis is estimated to be involved in 90% of all chemical processes and in the creation of 60% of the chemical products available on the market. However, it is still rarely analysed at the atomic scale. The need to understand catalysis at this level is driven by both economic and environmental concerns; therefore, there is a global interest in optimising the synthesis of new catalytic materials and in understanding the fundamental process of catalysis.
Diamond provides specialist analytical techniques for the atomic to microscale characterisation of various catalytic materials and the in situ study of catalytic processes.
Homogeneous catalyst design
- Structural characterisation of various homogenous catalysts applied in fine chemical and pharmaceutical industries;
- Optimising a catalyst formation based on its selectivity and activity towards specific reaction e.g. alkylation, oligomerisation, carbon-carbon coupling reactions;
- Studies of electronic and structural ligand-active metal interactions.
Heterogeneous catalyst design
- Investigations on novel three-way catalysts – monitoring effect of promoter on an active metal and overall performance of a catalyst;
- Studies of novel, more efficient Fischer Tropsch catalysts, promoted with various dopants;
- Structural characterisation of multifunctional mesoporous materials e.g. zeolites, AlPO- types with different active metals.
Mechanism of catalytic reactions
- Structural and electronic studies of catalyst and catalytic processes under in situ, time-resolved conditions to mimic real industrial processes;
- Understand mechanism of catalysis by in situ studies of fast kinetic phenomena and detect multiple transition species of catalyst under operation;
- Structural characterisation of homogeneous catalysts using in situ, stopped flow reactors.
Processing of catalytic materials
- Follow structural changes during processing under service conditions;
- Understand processes of poisoning and deactivation of catalysts under extreme conditions e.g. high temperature, pressure;
- Detect strain, fatigue, pores and cracks within catalytic systems under operating conditions;
- Apply advanced approaches to improve catalytic reactor technology.
