Transmission electron microscopy: recent advances in catalysis and energy applications
Thomas Altantzis
ELCAT, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium and EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
“Nanomaterials have attracted enormous attention over the last few decades thanks to their improved properties and utility in a plethora of scientific areas including catalysis and electrochemistry. Different parameters such as structure, morphology, as well as chemical composition and the presence of defects directly affect the properties of nanomaterials. A detailed characterization of these parameters is of paramount importance in order to obtain a better insight concerning the structure-to-property connection.
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) is an ideal technique to investigate materials at both the nanometer and atomic scale and has therefore been widely used in the study of nanomaterials. By combining the technique with tomography, a technique which derives three-dimensional (3D) information from two-dimensional (2D) projections, one is able to determine the structure and shape of nanostructures in 3D, even with atomic resolution. Furthermore, combination with spectroscopic techniques such as energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) allows for the etermination of the composition and even oxidation state of nanomaterials both in 2D and 3D.
In this talk, a short introduction to the fundamentals of TEM and its capabilities will be given, followed by an overview of the most recent advances in the field of ex- and in-situ characterization of catalysis and energy related materials, both at the nanometer and atomic scale.”