Developments of electron microscopy methods in the study of catalysts

Recent developments in electron microscopy methods for in-situ probing of catalysis at the atomic level, ultrahigh resolution surface tools, energy filtered imaging for elucidating the structure and chemistry of nanoparticles and electron tomography for three-dimensional visualization of nanocatalysts are transforming heterogeneous catalysis research. In this short review, recent experimental and theoretical developments of electron microscopy methods for the study of gas–solid catalyst reactions, liquid–catalyst reactions, polymerization in the solution and solid phase, oxides and nanocatalysts are presented. They demonstrate the powerful role of electron microscopy in the design and development of catalyst materials and technologies.