Vibrational Spectroscopy and Related In situ Studies of Catalytic Reactions within Molecular Sieves

Scientists in the field of catalysis are in a perpetual pursuit of optimization of existing processes in terms of activity/selectivity as well as development of new ones. In many cases, trial-and-error modus operandi prevails upon the rational approach, even with a level of sophistication and knowledge modern science and technology delivers. In order to improve on this situation, catalyst scientists require better insight into the key stages of the reaction process and, in particular, the catalyst’s modus operandi. Armed with a rigorous understanding of this, it could then be possible to prepare the archetypal designer catalyst with the desired superior performance for the reaction in question. However, such information can only be obtained reliably by monitoring a catalyst ‘‘in action.’’ In order to do this, it is essential to adapt catalytic reactors and/or spectroscopic/scattering techniques to study the processes in real time – an approach that gives rise to the field of in situ or operando spectroscopy [1, 2].