Probing selective oxidation catalysis under reaction conditions by atomic scale environmental high resolution electron microscopy

Major striking advances in the field of environmental high resolution electron microscopy have been achieved for probing selective oxidation catalysis directly on the atomic scale. Outstanding contributions are resulting from the ability to observe in real-time live gas molecule—catalyst surface interactions close to their natural reaction state and the unraveling of atomic-level insights into active sites and structure-activity relationships in vital chemical and technological processes. Recent examples in this burgeoning field include discoveries of novel reaction processes for the release of structural oxygen in alkane catalysis, finely dispersed nanophase metal catalysts that can be used in the hydrodechlorination of 1, 1 -dichlorotetrafluroethanes, interactions in catalytic reforming of methane and emission control catalysis, special classes of solid acid catalysts, and carbon nanotubes and fullerenes.