In Situ and Operando Characterization in Catalysis

Dear Colleagues,

The majority of today’s industrial chemical processes employ biocatalysts (e.g., enzymes), homogeneous and/or heterogeneous catalysts. With current worldwide challenges in food, energy, and water supplies, it is hard to imagine a future of yet-to-be-discovered solutions without catalysts. The development of energy and resource efficient catalytic process for production of ammonia (for fertilizers) and for conversion of biomass and abundant feedstocks to fuels and chemicals are just a few examples where novel active, selective, and stable catalysts will be required. To achieve this goal, many tools will be needed to enable a better understanding of how these catalysts work: where (required catalytic sites), how (reaction mechanism), and how fast (kinetics). In situ and/or operando (experimental and computational) catalyst characterization at reaction conditions is without any doubt poised to help us understand the intricacies of chemical conversions required for the design of better catalytic materials.

This Special Issue focuses on recent advances in experimental and computational in situ and operando spectroscopy/microscopy/diffraction characterization of catalysts, novel characterization methods, and in situ reactors, and novel analysis methodologies to better understand catalysts, reaction intermediates and mechanisms and how they can assist in the design of improved and novel catalysts. Full papers, communications, perspectives, and mini-reviews are most welcome.

Dr. Juan J Bravo-Suarez
Guest Editor

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