ELECTRON MICROSCOPY IN THE CATALYSIS OF ALKANE OXIDATION, ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL, AND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES

The key role of electron microscopy in understanding and creating advanced catalyst materials and processes in selective alkane oxidation, environmental control, and alternative energy sources is reviewed. In many technological processes, catalysts are increasingly nanoscale heterogeneous materials. With growing regulatory guidelines requiring efficient and environmentally compatible catalytic processes, it is crucial to have a fundamental understanding of the catalyst nanostructure and modes of operation under reaction conditions to design novel catalysts and processes. The review highlights the pioneering development and applications of atomic resolution in situ-environmental transmission electron microscopy (ETEM) for probing dynamic catalysis directly at the atomic level, high-resolution electron microscopy, and analytical spectroscopic methods in the development of alkane catalyzation, environmental protection, and new energy sources.