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Correlative Multiscale 3D Imaging of a Hierarchical Nanoporous Gold Catalyst by Electron, Ion and X‐ray Nanotomography
Author(s) -
Fam Yakub,
Sheppard Thomas L.,
Diaz Ana,
Scherer Torsten,
Holler Mirko,
Wang Wu,
Wang Di,
Brenner Patrice,
Wittstock Arne,
Grunwaldt JanDierk
Publication year - 2018
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.201800230
Subject(s) - nanoporous , electron tomography , materials science , tomography , synchrotron , porosity , image resolution , scanning electron microscope , tomographic reconstruction , nanotechnology , optics , scanning transmission electron microscopy , physics , composite material
Tomographic imaging of catalysts allows non‐invasive investigation of structural features and chemical properties by combining large fields of view, high spatial resolution, and the ability to probe multiple length scales. Three complementary nanotomography techniques, (i) electron tomography, (ii) focused ion beam—scanning electron microscopy, and (iii) synchrotron ptychographic X‐ray computed tomography, were applied to render the 3D structure of monolithic nanoporous gold doped with ceria, a catalytically active material with hierarchical porosity on the nm and μm scale. The resulting tomograms were used to directly measure volume fraction, surface area and pore size distribution, together with 3D pore network mapping. Each technique is critically assessed in terms of approximate spatial resolution, field of view, sample preparation and data processing requirements. Ptychographic X‐ray computed tomography produced 3D electron density maps with isotropic spatial resolution of 23 nm, the highest so far demonstrated for a catalyst material, and is highlighted as an emerging method with excellent potential in the field of catalysis.