Purpose & Applications

In situ thermal DRIFTS is a widely used characterisation technique for investigating catalyst surface processes under controlled heating conditions. It enables real-time monitoring of surface adsorbates, key intermediates, and product evolution, providing direct insight into surface reaction mechanisms and pathways in thermal catalysis. The technique is well suited for a broad range of gas–solid reaction systems, including CO₂ hydrogenation, CO hydrogenation, methanation, methanol synthesis, VOC oxidation, and catalytic oxidation, and is widely applied in active-site analysis, catalyst performance evaluation, adsorbed-species identification, intermediate tracking, and dynamic studies of complex catalytic reactions.

Instrument Model

In Situ Plasma DRIFTS Cell (Harrick): Praying Mantis™ High Temperature Reaction Chambers

FTIR Spectrometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific): Nicolet iS50

Mass Spectrometer (Anyeep): GMA6500

Sample Requirements

1 | Sample Type

Suitable for powdered, granular, or supported solid catalysts with adequate diffuse reflectance in the infrared region. Typical samples include metal oxides, zeolites, MOFs, supported metal catalysts, and other porous solid materials.

2 | Sample Amount

A sample amount of 100–500 mg is generally recommended for each measurement. The actual amount may be adjusted depending on the cell size, test mode, and sample packing density. For materials with lower density or weaker reflectance, a larger amount may be required.

3 | Particle Size

Samples should have a relatively uniform particle size. Sieving to 40–80 mesh or grinding to a consistent particle size is generally recommended. Oversized particles may affect sample packing and spectral reproducibility, while excessively fine powders may influence gas transport or lead to sample loss.