Probing surface chemistry during reactions closer to realistic conditions is crucial for the understanding of mechanisms in heterogeneous catalysis. Near ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS) is one of the state-of-the-art surface-sensitive techniques used to characterize catalyst surfaces in gas phases. This Perspective begins with a brief overview of the development of the NAP-XPS technique and its representative applications in identifying the active sites at a molecular level. Next, recent in situ NAP-XPS investigations of several model catalysts in the CO 2 hydrogenation reaction are mainly discussed. Finally, we highlight the major challenges facing NAP-XPS and future improvements to facilities for probing intermediates with higher resolutions under real ambient pressure reactions in heterogeneous catalysis.
Keyphrases
- single molecule
- air pollution
- high resolution
- particulate matter
- highly efficient
- room temperature
- molecular dynamics simulations
- dual energy
- visible light
- cross sectional
- metal organic framework
- mass spectrometry
- computed tomography
- ionic liquid
- magnetic resonance imaging
- escherichia coli
- cystic fibrosis
- biofilm formation
- drug discovery
- electron transfer
- crystal structure