Laboratory of operando Research Methods

Laboratory of operando Research Methods

The laboratory carries out in situ and operando IR spectroscopy measurements, which are a powerful tool for the detailed study of the mechanism of adsorption and catalytic processes. The data from these studies support the design of efficient materials for applications in gas separation, purification and storage, gas sensors, catalysis, etc.

Two women in front of a monitor and optical apparatus on a metal trolley in a laboratory

Description of Activities

  • Recording of IR spectra of powder materials (thin pellets, without dilution in KBr) after activation treatment under controlled conditions. Characterisation of surface hydroxyl groups and contaminants.
  • Recording of IR spectra of adsorbed probe molecules (e.g. CO) on activated samples. Characterisation of Brønsted and Lewis acid sites and determination of the nature, oxidation state and coordination state of metal centres.
  • Recording of IR spectra of surface species during adsorption and catalytic processes under controlled conditions. Use of isotopically labelled molecules (13CO, 15NO, D2, D2O) to elucidate the mechanism of the processes at the molecular level.

Equipment

1. Thermo Scientific Nicolet iS50R FTIR spectrometer, rapid-scanning, with a high-sensitivity MCT-A detector.

2. In situ / operando cells (Harrick Scientific) – a high-temperature transmission cell and a diffuse reflectance cell with a Praying Mantis accessory. They allow operation under controlled temperatures and gas atmospheres.

1. Glass in situ cell

2. High-temperature diffuse reflectance operando cell

3. Thermo Scientific Trace 1300 Series gas chromatograph / Hiden Analytical HPR-20 R&D mass spectrometer – analysis of reaction products.

5. Bronkhorst EL-FLOW Prestige gas flow controllers, gas lines and valves.

3. The complete operando system: IR spectrometer, cell, mass spectrometer, chromatograph, controllers

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Access to the Laboratory and Service Requests

The laboratory is part of the research infrastructure of the National Centre of Excellence “Mechatronics and Clean Technologies” and is located at the Geo Milev campus. Requests for access and for joint research are therefore processed centrally — see Contact. In addition, a full overview of the Centre’s other laboratories is available on the Infrastructure and Laboratories page.

The laboratory’s equipment was set up under project BG16RFPR002-1.014-0006, funded by the Programme “Research, Innovation and Digitalisation for Smart Transformation” 2021–2027, co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund.