Operando Techniques: towards catalysis in industrial conditions
Equipment
Surface properties and reactivity of different materials can be deeply characterized by using
in situ Infrared Spectroscopy of adsorbed molecules. Several FTIR instruments (Bruker) working in transmission mode are available
in via Giuria, all connected with a vacuum line, allowing gas dosages and measurements in controlled atmosphere, in a wide range
of pressure (10-3 – 102 Torr) and temperatures (from 77 K to room temperature). In the new laboratories in via Quarello two advanced
instruments are present: (i) a Vertex70 Bruker instrument, equipped with an external optical part allowing measurements with
unconventional equipment; and (ii) a Nicolet xx instrument equipped with an Environmental Chamber working in Diffuse Reflectance
(DRIFT) mode, allowing measurements during heating and/or outgassing and gas dosages, both in static and dynamic conditions.
This last instrument can analyze small amounts of samples in powdered form, and is very powerful especially in case of black samples.
Vertex 70 Instument with external optical part.
A new setup can approach “working conditions” of industrial process (e.g., Methanol To Hydrocarbons reaction) also in case of IR data collection. This consists of a saturator (i.e. system that allows a gas stream saturated with reagents in the vapour phase), that can be combined with the “in situ” IR cell. The spectroscopic results are complementary to the results of Temperature Programmed Reactions (Oxidation, Reduction, Desorption) performed using the CATLAB system, equipped with a Mass Spectrometer which allows to detect the evolution of gases during the required reaction.
In case of air sensitive samples a glove box is also available, allowing to manipulate the samples in different cells in controlled atmosphere.
Vertex 70 Instument with external optical part.
A new setup can approach “working conditions” of industrial process (e.g., Methanol To Hydrocarbons reaction) also in case of IR data collection. This consists of a saturator (i.e. system that allows a gas stream saturated with reagents in the vapour phase), that can be combined with the “in situ” IR cell. The spectroscopic results are complementary to the results of Temperature Programmed Reactions (Oxidation, Reduction, Desorption) performed using the CATLAB system, equipped with a Mass Spectrometer which allows to detect the evolution of gases during the required reaction.
In case of air sensitive samples a glove box is also available, allowing to manipulate the samples in different cells in controlled atmosphere.