Stability of a Bifunctional Cu-Based Core@Zeolite Shell Catalyst for Dimethyl Ether Synthesis Under Redox Conditions Studied by Environmental Transmission Electron Microscopy and In Situ X-Ray Ptychography

Baier S, Damsgaard S, Klumpp M, Reinhardt J, Sheppard T, Balogh Z, Kasama T, Benzi F, Wagner J, Schwieger W, Schroer C, Grunwaldt J (2017)


Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2017

Journal

Publisher: CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS

Book Volume: 23

Pages Range: 501-512

Journal Issue: 3

DOI: 10.1017/S1431927617000332

Abstract

When using bifunctional core@shell catalysts, the stability of both the shell and core-shell interface is crucial for catalytic applications. In the present study, we elucidate the stability of a CuO/ZnO/Al2O3@ZSM-5 core@shell material, used for one-stage synthesis of dimethyl ether from synthesis gas. The catalyst stability was studied in a hierarchical manner by complementary environmental transmission electron microscopy (ETEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and in situ hard X-ray ptychography with a specially designed in situ cell. Both reductive activation and reoxidation were applied. The core-shell interface was found to be stable during reducing and oxidizing treatment at 250 degrees C as observed by ETEM and in situ X-ray ptychography, although strong changes occurred in the core on a 10 nm scale due to the reduction of copper oxide to metallic copper particles. At 350 degrees C, in situ X-ray ptychography indicated the occurrence of structural changes also on the mu m scale, i.e. the core material and parts of the shell undergo restructuring. Nevertheless, the crucial core-shell interface required for full bifunctionality appeared to remain stable. This study demonstrates the potential of these correlative in situ microscopy techniques for hierarchically designed catalysts.

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APA:

Baier, S., Damsgaard, S., Klumpp, M., Reinhardt, J., Sheppard, T., Balogh, Z.,... Grunwaldt, J. (2017). Stability of a Bifunctional Cu-Based Core@Zeolite Shell Catalyst for Dimethyl Ether Synthesis Under Redox Conditions Studied by Environmental Transmission Electron Microscopy and In Situ X-Ray Ptychography. Microscopy and Microanalysis, 23(3), 501-512. https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1431927617000332

MLA:

Baier, S., et al. "Stability of a Bifunctional Cu-Based Core@Zeolite Shell Catalyst for Dimethyl Ether Synthesis Under Redox Conditions Studied by Environmental Transmission Electron Microscopy and In Situ X-Ray Ptychography." Microscopy and Microanalysis 23.3 (2017): 501-512.

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