Nanoscale tomography reveals the deactivation of automotive copper-exchanged zeolite catalysts

nanoscale

J.E. Schmidt, R. Oord, W. Guo, J.D. Poplawsky & B.M. Weckhuysen

The research headed by Prof Bert Wechkhuysen from Utrecht University in collaboration with Dr Poplawsky from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, demonstrates the potential of Atomic Probe  Tomography as a sensitive and local characterization powerful method which provides identification of nanometer scale heterogeneities that lead to catalytic activity and material deactivation. The technique was successfully applied for the study of fresh and used Copper-exchanged zeolite chabazite (Cu-SSZ-13)  as well as Cu-ZSM-5 revealing the differences between the samples in the degree of deactivation and the structural changes associated. Full article can be found in the link DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01765-0

Nature Communications, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01765-0

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