Capturing Catalyst Strain Dynamics during Operando CO Oxidation.

Understanding the strain dynamic behavior of catalysts is crucial for the development of cost-effective, efficient, stable, and long-lasting catalysts. Using time-resolved Bragg coherent diffraction imaging at the fourth generation Extremely Brilliant Source of the European Synchrotron (ESRF-EBS), we achieved subsecond time resolution during operando chemical reactions. Upon investigation of Pt nanoparticles during CO oxidation, the three-dimensional strain profile highlights significant changes in the surface and subsurface regions, where localized strain is probed along the [111] direction. Notably, a rapid increase in tensile strain was observed at the top and bottom Pt {111} facets during CO adsorption. Moreover, we detected oscillatory strain changes (6.4 s period) linked to CO adsorption during oxidation, where a time resolution of 0.25 s was achieved. This approach allows for the study of adsorption dynamics of catalytic nanomaterials at the single-particle level under operando conditions, which provides insight into nanoscale catalytic mechanisms.

Unveiling Core-Shell Structure Formation in a Ni3Fe Nanoparticle with In Situ Multi-Bragg Coherent Diffraction Imaging.

Solid-state reactions play a key role in materials science. The evolution of the structure of a single 350 nm Ni3Fe nanoparticle, i.e., its morphology (facets) as well as its deformation field, has been followed by applying multireflection Bragg coherent diffraction imaging. Through this approach, we unveiled a demixing process that occurs at high temperatures (600 °C) under an Ar atmosphere. This process leads to the gradual emergence of a highly strained core-shell structure, distinguished by two distinct lattice parameters with a difference of 0.4%. Concurrently, this transformation causes the facets to vanish, ultimately yielding a rounded core-shell nanoparticle. This final structure comprises a Ni3Fe core surrounded by a 40 nm Ni-rich outer shell due to preferential iron oxidation. Providing in situ 3D imaging of the lattice parameters at the nanometer scale while varying the temperature, this study─with the support of atomistic simulations─not only showcases the power of in situ multireflection BCDI but also provides valuable insights into the mechanisms at work during a solid-state reaction characterized by a core-shell transition.