Single-Atom Imaging of Industrial Catalysts

Single-Atom Imaging of Industrial Catalysts

Author: Angewandte Chemie International Edition

A collaboration led by Stig Helveg and co-workers, Haldor Topsøe A/S, Lyngby, Denmark, has led to detailed insights with implications for MoS2 catalysts employed for industrial oil refining, hydrogen evolution, and photooxidation.

The atomic edge structures of several industrial-style MoS2 nanocatalysts were imaged using single-atom sensitive electron microscopy (see picture). These images confirm experimentally the predicted position of sulfur atoms at the edges of the MoS2 platelets supported on graphite. The reactivity of these platelets is associated with their edges and so detailed information is highly sought to understand the nature of the catalytically active sites. The team also confirmed that the same MoS2 structures are present in the real MoS2 catalyst used in industry.

Images: © Wiley-VCH


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