In situ electron microscopy revealing dynamic structure–function relationship of heterogeneous catalyst

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) facilitates the direct observation of individual catalytic materials with atomic-level spatial resolution, offering crucial structural insights into catalyst performance. Furthermore, the recent integration of in situ analysis techniques with TEM has enabled the real-time monitoring of dynamic structural changes in catalysts within a reaction environment over time, yielding novel findings that are challenging to obtain through conventional bulk characterization methods. In this prospective, we explore advanced TEM technologies employed for precisely examining the structure of a catalyst surface, emphasizing the dynamic chemistry inherent in heterogeneous catalysis, exclusively validated through in situ TEM. Finally, we propose future directions for in situ TEM studies on heterogeneous catalysis.