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Aberration‐corrected Analytical Microscopy Characterization of Double‐Supported WO 3 /TiO 2 /SiO 2 Solid Acid Catalysts
Author(s) -
Zhou Wu,
Doura Kevin F.,
Watanabe Masashi,
Herzing Andrew A.,
Okunishi Eiji,
RossMedgaarden Elizabeth I.,
Wachs Israel E.,
Kiely Christopher J.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.201000273
Subject(s) - oxide , catalysis , scanning transmission electron microscopy , characterization (materials science) , materials science , dark field microscopy , energy dispersive x ray spectroscopy , scanning electron microscope , spectroscopy , transmission electron microscopy , analytical chemistry (journal) , nanotechnology , chemistry , microscopy , optics , organic chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , metallurgy , composite material
Double‐supported metal oxide catalysts, in which an oxide support material with a high surface area is modified by the presence of a second metal oxide surface species added to control the distribution and activity of a third active oxide component, represent a significant challenge in terms of structural characterization. In this study the various components in a double‐supported WO 3 /TiO 2 /SiO 2 catalyst system are effectively visualized by using complementary high‐angle annular dark field (HAADF) and bright field (BF) imaging within an aberration‐corrected scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM). Furthermore, if combined with chemical analysis by electron energy‐loss spectroscopy (EELS) and X‐ray energy‐dispersive spectroscopy (XEDS) within the same STEM instrument, it is possible to map out the relative spatial distribution of all the metal oxide components within the WO 3 /TiO 2 /SiO 2 catalysts. By comparing the structures of a systematic set of WO 3 /TiO 2 /SiO 2 samples that display high, intermediate and low activity for the methanol dehydration reaction, new insight is provided into the structure‐performance relationships that exist in this double supported catalyst system.