Size and shape of industrial Pd catalyst particles using size-selected clusters as mass standards

Abstract

The complexity of the morphology of industrial catalysts presents a significant challenge to rapid screening techniques. Here, we propose a strategy in determining three-dimensional shape of industrial catalyst particles using a combination of scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) as a quantitative probe and size-selected clusters as mass standards. We show that through STEM image intensity analysis, this approach allows us to evaluate the number of atoms within each particle and thus gain insight into the overall 3D morphology of the catalyst particles. It is found that the industrial Pd catalysts on carbon blacks have hemispherical shape, in contrast to the spherical shape of Pd clusters formed in the gas phase and soft-landed on supports.