Monitoring Aqueous Phase Reactions by Operando ATR‐IR Spectroscopy at High Temperature and Pressure: A Biomass Conversion Showcase

Invited for this month's cover is the group of Bert M. Weckhuysen at the Utrecht University (The Netherlands). The cover picture shows an attenuated Total Reflection Infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR) probe monitoring a chemical reaction in the liquid phase, particularly water, at demanding conditions. The light penetrates few microns deep in proximity of the ATR-IR probe and thus any IR-active entity in that range is probed. This research systematically addresses the challenges associated with acquiring operando ATR-IR spectra for liquid/aqueous phase reactions, which is essential for better understanding of chemical reactions in the liquid phase. Read the full text of their Full Paper at 10.1002/cmtd.202100041.