Haimei Zheng1,2
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory1,University of California, Berkeley2
Haimei Zheng1,2
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory1,University of California, Berkeley2
Liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has become a powerful tool for the real-time study of chemical reactions and dynamic phenomena at solid-liquid interfaces. Various advancements have been made. For example, UV light was introduced into a liquid cell which enabled the study of photocatalytic water splitting by TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles. Interestingly, it was found that electron beam may serve as a “light” source for the investigation of pseudo-photocatalytic water splitting with rutile TiO<sub>2</sub> nanorods. The observation revealed the catalyst facet dependent water splitting behavior, for instance, the catalytic reactions generated hydrogen gas bubbles were found preferentially residing at the {110} facet of the rutile TiO<sub>2</sub> nanorod under a low electron dose rate. The electron beam effects were suppressed under the low dose imaging. Development has also been made for the study of other complex catalytic reactions, and catalytic nanoparticle restructuring has been found. Direct observation of catalytic nanoparticle structural evolution at the atomic level opens many opportunities to uncover the catalytic reactions mechanisms, and future design of novel catalysts.