Project description DEENESFRITPL Real-time imaging to track catalyst formation Nanomaterial-based catalysts are usually heterogeneous catalysts broken up into nanoparticles to speed up the catalytic process. Compared to their bulk counterparts, metal nanoparticles have a higher surface area, so there is increased catalytic activity. So far, the spectroscopic characterisation of materials undergoing reaction coupled simultaneously with measurement of catalytic activity and selectivity has been conducted in ideal conditions. The ambition of the EU-funded CARINE project is to track in situ and operando the structural evolution of catalytic nanoparticles in realistic conditions. It will do so by using coherent diffraction imaging. The new imaging technique will help researchers better understand catalyst formation and further improve their durability and efficiency. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Heterogeneous catalysis of nanoparticles has recently emerged as highly promising way to speed up catalytic processes due to their far higher surface area compared to bulk materials. But they face significant challenges in achieving high catalytic activity and sufficient durability. A key problem has been that all existing approaches to the characterization of atomic scale phenomena in these materials either lack structural specificity or can be employed under highly unrealistic catalytic environments. As an example, operando x-ray catalysis has often been carried out under idealized conditions and averaging information from macroscopic facets. This approach suffers from the lack of transferability to nanocrystalline systems. To tackle this problem, I am developing new state-of-the-art in situ techniques based on coherent x-ray scattering and complementary chemical characterization, with which I will optimize catalyst and reactor operations simultaneously. This is the ambition of the CARINE project to study in situ and operando the structural evolution of catalytic nanoparticles in realistic conditions during reaction by using the unique capabilities of coherent diffraction Bragg imaging (CDI). My proposed work builds on my recent exciting proof-of-concept experiments using Pt nanocrystals that demonstrate the sensitivity and spatial resolution of CDI under liquid conditions. As dedicated instruments for CDI have just reached user operation, it is only now that this new imaging technique can be applied during reaction and can probe structural changes of individual nanocrystals under conditions where up to now, no other techniques could probe the relevant parameters. My project will shed light into most relevant unsolved issues (durability, activity…) that limit the efficiency of today’s industrial processes and will open new horizons with outstanding impact in catalytic research. Fields of science engineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materialsnanocrystalsnatural scienceschemical sciencescatalysis Keywords catalysis strain engineering surface interface defects Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2018-COG - ERC Consolidator Grant Call for proposal ERC-2018-COG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant Host institution COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES Net EU contribution € 1 793 750,00 Address RUE LEBLANC 25 75015 PARIS 15 France See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 793 750,00 Beneficiaries (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES France Net EU contribution € 1 793 750,00 Address RUE LEBLANC 25 75015 PARIS 15 See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 793 750,00 EUROPEAN SYNCHROTRON RADIATION FACILITY France Net EU contribution € 81 250,00 Address 71 AVENUE DES MARTYRS 38000 Grenoble See on map Region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Rhône-Alpes Isère Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 81 250,00
