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Nanoscale Chemical Imaging of Zeolites Using Atom Probe Tomography
Author(s) -
Schmidt Joel E.,
Peng Linqing,
Poplawsky Jonathan D.,
Weckhuysen Bert M.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201712952
Subject(s) - atom probe , nanoscopic scale , materials science , tomography , zeolite , resolution (logic) , characterization (materials science) , nanometre , image resolution , porosity , nanotechnology , catalysis , computer science , chemistry , physics , optics , artificial intelligence , transmission electron microscopy , composite material , biochemistry
Understanding structure–composition–property relationships in zeolite‐based materials is critical to engineering improved solid catalysts. However, this can be difficult to realize as even single zeolite crystals can exhibit heterogeneities spanning several orders of magnitude, with consequences for, for example, reactivity, diffusion as well as stability. Great progress has been made in characterizing these porous solids using tomographic techniques, though each method has an ultimate spatial resolution limitation. Atom probe tomography (APT) is the only technique so far capable of producing 3D compositional reconstructions with sub‐nanometer‐scale resolution, and has only recently been applied to zeolite‐based catalysts. Herein, we discuss the use of APT to study zeolites, including the critical aspects of sample preparation, data collection, assignment of mass spectral peaks including the predominant CO peak, the limitations of spatial resolution for the recovery of crystallographic information, and proper data analysis. All sections are illustrated with examples from recent literature, as well as previously unpublished data and analyses to demonstrate practical strategies to overcome potential pitfalls in applying APT to zeolites, thereby highlighting new insights gained from the APT method.