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Gold clusters supported on Al2O3 and TiO2 have been exposed to different mixtures of CO and O2. Their structure has been probed in situ using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) at the Au L3-edge. In all materials, the dominant phase during catalysis is Au0. Both samples show variations of the electronic structure of the gold clusters with changing reaction conditions as evidenced by changes in the X-ray absorption near-edge (XANES) region. These variations are caused by interaction between the gold clusters and the carbon monoxide present in the gas phase. The gold atoms remain zerovalent throughout all experiments confirming the importance of Au0 for catalytic activity.

We outline and demonstrate the feasibility of high-throughput (HT) in situ XAFS for synchrotron radiation studies. An XAS data acquisition and control system for the analysis of dynamic materials libraries under control of temperature and gaseous environments has been developed. The system is compatible with the 96-well industry standard and coupled to multi-stream quadrupole mass spectrometry (QMS) analysis of reactor effluents. An automated analytical workflow generates data quickly compared to traditional individual spectrum acquisition and analyses them in quasi-real time using an HT data analysis tool based on IFFEFIT. The system was used for the automated characterization of a library of 91 catalyst precursors containing ternary combinations of Cu, Pt, and Au on ?-Al2O3, and for the in situ characterization of Au catalysts supported on Al2O3 and TiO2.

An XAS data acquisition and control system for the in situ analysis of dynamic materials libraries under control of temperature and gaseous environment has been developed. It was integrated at the SRS in Daresbury, UK, beamline 9.3, using a Si (220) monochromator and a 13 element solid state Ge fluorescence detector. The core of the system is an intelligent X, Y, Z, θ positioning system coupled to multi-stream quadrupole mass spectrometry analysis (QMS). The system is modular and can be adapted to other synchrotron radiation beamlines. The entire software control was implemented using Labview and allows the scan of a variety of library sizes, in several positions, angles, gas compositions and temperatures with minimal operator intervention. The system was used for the automated characterization of a library of 91 catalyst precursors containing ternary combinations of Cu, Pt, and Au on γ-Al2O3, and for the evaluation and structural characterization of eight Au catalysts supported on A12O3 and TiO2. Mass spectrometer traces reveal conversion rate oscillations in 6wt % Au/γAl2O3 catalysts. The use of HT experimentation for in situ EXAFS studies demonstrates the feasibility and potential of HT in situ XAFS for synchrotron radiation studies.

The high throughput synthesis and characterization of a particular family of ceramic materials, bismuth molybdenum vanadium oxides (BiMoVOX), suitable as inorganic yellow pigments and low temperature oxidation catalysts, is described. Samples, synthesized by calcination and peroxo sol-gel methods, are characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, UV-visible and XAFS spectroscopy. A combined high-throughput XRD/XAFS study of a 54 samples array, with simultaneous refinement of data of both techniques, has been performed. Molybdenum doping of bismuth vanadate results in a phase transition from monoclinic BiV04 to tetragonal Bi(V,Mo)04, both of scheelite type. Both central metals, V5+ and Mo6+, remain in a tetrahedral coordination. UV/visible spectroscopy identifies a linear blue shift as a function of Mo6+ amount.

Understanding the structural cause of the high Lewis acidity in the novel solid Lewis acid AlF3 is of crucial importance to tailor this important material property to the specific needs of potential applications. Based on Al and F K‐edge XAS studies, we are able to correlate high Lewis acidity with geometric distortions of the [AlF6] building blocks of AlF3. These distortions are induced by the presence of i‐OPr ligands in the AlF3−x(i‐OPr)x precursor material and can only be preserved by the application of a mild fluorinating agent like CCl2F2. High Lewis acidity is not caused by electronic modification of the aluminium atom, but by the better exposure of reactants to the acid site in the high surface area materials.

High throughput screening methodologies are expanded to synchrotron based x‐ray absorption techniques. An environmental chamber, based on ultra‐high vacuum equipment, has been developed allowing in situ studies on arrays of samples while X‐ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and/or X‐ray diffraction can be applied simultaneously to characterize the system under process conditions in a time‐resolved manner. The chamber accommodates a diverse range of samples from surface science to materials chemistry to heterogeneous catalysis. Data acquisition and data logging software is developed to handle large quantities of divers but related information. New data logging, processing and analysis procedures and programs are developed which will allow fast structure‐function relationships characterization.

Total Electron Yield (TEY) oxygen K‐edge NEXAFS detects the presence of strongly adsorbed water molecules on poloxamer‐coated pharmaceutical actives, which provides a useful spectroscopic indicator for bioavailability. The results are supported by complementary XPS measurements. Carbon K‐edge spectra obtained in a high‐pressure NEXAFS cell were used in situ to establish how a polymer coating spread on a drug surface by using humidity induced dispersion of the coating. Finally, we demonstrate how combined Carbon and Oxygen K‐edge measurements can be used to characterize amorphous surface layers on micronised crystals of a drug compound.