A combined research approach to develop new catalysts

In order to fully understand the effectiveness of a catalyst requires studying its performance within real operando conditions to observe the different catalytic active states. 

Harnessing the benefits of Diamond’s unique co-located facilities, Johnson Matthey were able to use a range of complementary research techniques to study a commercially available gas-cell chip assembly.  The aim of the work was to investigate the redox behaviour of supported Pt nanoparticles on ceria under typical lean and rich diesel-exhaust conditions.  

The team of scientists used the X-ray nanoprobe beamline at Diamond to conduct in situ studies using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES); they combined this data with in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM), using the electron physical science imaging centre (ePSIC) at Diamond.

This combined approach allowed the team to study the same particles under identical conditions (gas flow, pressure, temperature) and correlate the insight achieved - formulation, pore structure, binder properties, particle size and chemistry – to understand the role of the catalyst alongside its structure-property relationships.

Discover what they found.