NACAREI · Nanofluidic Catalytic Reaction Imaging

How can we “see” a catalytic reaction on a single nanoparticle? While our eyes use visible light to create a vivid perception of our world, they are unable to resolve the nanoscale. Now imagine light yet allowing us to equally vividly see a chemical process and thereby enabling us to witness how structure or chemical composition of a single nanoparticle control the rate of a catalytic reaction on its surface. To date, the lack of a suitable technique prevents this ultimate level of insight at technically relevant conditions. At the same time, to gain such insight is the ultimate goal of catalysis science and a key enabler for the rational design of next-generation catalyst materials needed to address some of humanity’s grand challenges in the energy, environmental clean-up and health sectors. NACAREI therefore develops a nanoimaging method that realizes this ultimate goal. As the key ingredients for achieving the necessary unprecedented resolution, it relies on the combined nano-confinement of reaction products in, and the ultrahigh optical sensitivity of, nanofluidic structures. Particular focus will also be put on the development of methods to fabricate or trap size-, shape- and composition-controlled single sub-10 nm metal nanoparticles inside nanofluidic channels by combining key traits of top-down nanofabrication and colloidal synthesis. The developed nanoimaging platform will be applied to scientific case studies related to catalyst function with respect to the roles of particle structure, surface state, chemical composition and interaction with the support, and thereby uncover the next generation of catalyst design rules. In the long term, I envision the developed nanoscale imaging platform to enable the study of other nanoscale processes, for example in biochemistry, thereby enabling high impact also at other vibrant scientific frontiers.