Catalysis: In situ TEM | DENSsolutions

Overview

Watch catalysts work under real reaction conditions

Catalysts are at the heart of countless industrial processes, enabling the efficient production of fuels, chemicals, fertilizers, and sustainable energy carriers. However, catalysts are not static materials. Under realistic reaction conditions, nanoparticles, supports, interfaces, and active sites continuously evolve, often determining catalytic activity, selectivity, and stability.

DENSsolutions Climate enables researchers to study catalysts under realistic gas environments, elevated temperatures, and operando reaction conditions inside the electron microscope. This provides direct insight into catalyst restructuring, metal-support interactions, phase transformations, and active-site evolution, helping accelerate the development of next-generation catalysts for sustainable energy and chemical manufacturing.

This research was done using Done using Climate

Dynamics of a cu/zno/al₂o₃ catalyst revealed by operando transmission electron microscopy during CO₂ hydrogenation

Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalysts are among the most important industrial catalyst systems used for methanol synthesis and CO₂ hydrogenation. In this study, operando transmission electron microscopy was used to directly visualize catalyst evolution under realistic reaction conditions. The work revealed dynamic restructuring processes occurring at the nanoscale and established direct links between catalyst structure and catalytic performance. These insights provide valuable guidance for the development of more efficient CO₂ utilization technologies and sustainable fuel production pathways.

Boniface, M. et al.Dynamics of a Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ Catalyst Revealed by Operando Transmission Electron Microscopy During CO₂ Hydrogenation.Nature Catalysis 9, 404 (2026).

Explore Climate See full publication

This research was done using Done using Climate

Looping metal-support interaction in heterogeneous catalysts during redox reactions

Metal-support interactions play a crucial role in determining catalyst activity and stability. This study revealed a previously unrecognized looping behavior between metal nanoparticles and oxide supports during redox cycling. By directly observing these interactions under realistic gas environments, the authors demonstrated how reversible structural transformations can influence catalytic performance and long-term durability.

Pan, Y. et al.Looping Metal-Support Interaction in Heterogeneous Catalysts During Redox Reactions.Nature Communications 16, 8627 (2025).

Explore Climate See full publication

This research was done using Done using Climate

Defective tiox overlayers catalyze propane dehydrogenation promoted by base metals

Propane dehydrogenation is an important industrial process for producing propylene, a key building block in the chemical industry. This work demonstrated how defective titanium oxide overlayers formed on catalyst surfaces actively contribute to catalytic performance. Operando microscopy revealed how nanoscale defects and dynamic surface structures create highly active catalytic sites, challenging conventional views of catalyst functionality.

Chen, S. et al.Defective TiOx Overlayers Catalyze Propane Dehydrogenation Promoted by Base Metals.Science 385, 295–300 (2024).

Explore Climate See full publication

This research was done using Done using Climate

Restructuring of titanium oxide overlayers over nickel nanoparticles during catalysis

Catalyst surfaces often undergo continuous restructuring during operation, yet these transformations are rarely observed directly. In this study, operando TEM revealed how titanium oxide overlayers dynamically restructure on nickel nanoparticles under catalytic conditions. The findings demonstrate that catalyst interfaces are highly dynamic and that these transformations play a fundamental role in determining catalytic activity and selectivity.

Monai, M. et al.Restructuring of Titanium Oxide Overlayers over Nickel Nanoparticles During Catalysis.Science 380, 644–651 (2023).

Explore Climate See full publication

This research was done using Done using Climate

Dynamic interplay between metal nanoparticles and oxide support under redox conditions

This landmark Science publication demonstrated that metal nanoparticles and oxide supports exhibit a highly dynamic and interdependent relationship under redox conditions. Operando gas-cell TEM revealed continuous restructuring, migration, and interaction between catalyst components, fundamentally changing our understanding of catalyst behavior. The work provides one of the clearest examples of why catalysts must be studied under realistic reaction conditions rather than in static environments.

Frey, H. et al.Dynamic Interplay Between Metal Nanoparticles and Oxide Support Under Redox Conditions.Science 376(6596), 982–987 (2022).

Explore Climate See full publication

Catalysis

Watch catalysts work under real reaction conditions

Platforms for this research area

Climate^∞

HydroBolt

Featured experiments

Dynamics of a cu/zno/al₂o₃ catalyst revealed by operando transmission electron microscopy during CO₂ hydrogenation

Looping metal-support interaction in heterogeneous catalysts during redox reactions

Defective tiox overlayers catalyze propane dehydrogenation promoted by base metals

Restructuring of titanium oxide overlayers over nickel nanoparticles during catalysis

Dynamic interplay between metal nanoparticles and oxide support under redox conditions

Top research in Catalysis

Advance your catalysis research

Catalysis

Watch catalysts work under real reaction conditions

Platforms for this research area

Climate∞

HydroBolt

Featured experiments

Dynamics of a cu/zno/al₂o₃ catalyst revealed by operando transmission electron microscopy during CO₂ hydrogenation

Looping metal-support interaction in heterogeneous catalysts during redox reactions

Defective tiox overlayers catalyze propane dehydrogenation promoted by base metals

Restructuring of titanium oxide overlayers over nickel nanoparticles during catalysis

Dynamic interplay between metal nanoparticles and oxide support under redox conditions

Top research in Catalysis

Advance your catalysis research

Climate^∞