BAR XPS: For Studies of Industrially Relevant Catalytic Reactions

July 28th, 2020

Scienta Omicron’s new high-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) system can perform studies under pressures exceeding 1 bar and control temperature up to 500 degrees Celsius.

Short facts:

  • The developed instrument places Scienta Omicron in the technological forefront of spectroscopic instrumentation.
  • The commercialisation of the instrument will make it available to many scientists around the world.
  • The never-before achieved molecular-level investigations of industrial processes helps in bringing together scientists at Haldor Topsoe A/S and Stockholm University.

It is estimated that up to 90% of chemical products are produced via catalysis. Many heterogeneous catalytic reactions occur at high pressures and temperatures. To study these types of catalytic reactions, researchers at Stockholm University led by Dr. Peter Amann have constructed an instrument capable of measuring XPS under conditions of > 1 bar of pressure in the vicinity of the catalytically reactive surface.

The performance of the instrument is demonstrated by measuring bulk 2p spectra from a copper single crystal at He pressures of up to 2.5 bar and C 1s spectra in gas mixtures of CO + H2 at pressures up to 790 mbar. The capability of the instrument opens up the possibility of operando studies of heterogeneous catalytic reactions under industrial manufacturing conditions.

In a recently published study, Peter Amann et al. illustrate an experimental technique, that probes catalytic reactions under more realistic conditions. They use a high-pressure XPS system and develop the concept of a virtual cell, where gas flows onto the sample surface and creates a localized high-pressure pillow. The instrument follows a modular design with 3 main components: 1) an electron analyser (Scienta Omicron, R4000 & HiPP-2), 2) a main chamber, and 3) a high precision hexapod for alignment.

“Working together with industry is highly stimulating- we are bridging from fundamental science to final products. Both with leading companies in their field, Haldor Topsoe A/S and Scienta Omicron, respectively” says Dr. Peter Amann.

 This 1 BAR XPS system solution is now available from Scienta Omicron.

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