Tuesday publication post! 📖 This publication uses the Atmosphere AX system coupled with our powerful machine vision software AXON to study sintering behavior in heterogeneous catalysts!
Using in situ high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), the authors directly visualized the drastic difference between conventional and stabilized catalysts:
📺 Ru NPs on SiO2 migrated aggressively, merging into larger particles within 200 seconds, leading to continuous NP loss (1 per minute).
🔬 Ru/LaOx–SiO2, stabilized by oxide nano-islands, remained structurally intact, with NO aggregation observed throughout the experiment.
By grafted oxide nanoislands between the catalyst support and metal NPs, it was possible to:
⭐Prevents catalyst deactivation by suppressing sintering pathways.
⭐Extends catalyst lifetime in high-temperature reactions, such as methane dry reforming (800°C, 400 hours).
⭐Scalable & adaptable—this method applies across multiple metal-support systems.
By using in situ microscopy, the authors got atomic-scale insight into catalyst evolution to finally improve catalyst design for more sinter-resistant materials.
Want to read the entire work? Find it here!
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-025-02134-9
