Catalyst Characterization: Methods and Techniques

This lecture covers the fundamental concepts of catalyst characterization, including the definition of catalysts, catalyst structures, time and length scales in catalysis, and the most used characterization methods such as gas adsorption, spectroscopy, and N2 physisorption. It also delves into the importance of in situ/operando approaches for understanding catalyst behavior during reactions, with examples of catalyst reduction and deactivation processes. The presentation emphasizes the significance of techniques like XRD, XAFS, EPR, UV-vis, Raman, FTIR, and NMR in providing insights into catalyst properties at different length scales.