Environmental high resolution electron microscopy of gas-catalyst reactions

Environmental electron microscopy has become an important scientific method for fundamental studies of dynamic chemical reaction processes in heterogeneous catalysis and of catalytic growth of carbon nanotubes. Outstanding contributions are resulting from the ability to observe gas-catalyst surface reactions in situ, on the atomic scale. A great deal of structural and chemical information including lattice modification of working catalysts is possible. This is key to understanding novel reaction processes, including release mechanism of structural oxygen in oxide catalysts in selective oxidation of hydrocarbons and to designing improved catalysts. This brief survey of the recent spectacular developments in environmental high resolution electron microscopy shows that new opportunities are being opened up in catalysis.