Spin Polarization Effects in Catalysts studied with x-ray specTRoscopies at Ambient conditions

ongoing

It is nowadays well known the urgent need of cheap, green and efficient catalysts able to convert greenhouse gases into more valuable and recyclable hydrocarbons. In this context, magnetocatalysis is an extremely promising field: in the last few years, a growing number of researchers discovered enhanced performances for electrocatalytic reactions in ferromagnetic materials. The majority of these studies report empirical results, and a satisfactory explanation of the mechanism ruling the spin effects is not well understood, mainly due to the lack of suitable experimental techniques. Regarding thermocatalytic reactions (such as CO oxidation or CO2 hydrogenation), studies on the effects of applied external magnetic field and intrinsic magnetic order on the activity and selectivity of magnetic catalysts are almost completely missing. This project aims to systematically unveil the mechanisms ruling the spin effects in catalytic solid/gas reactions; for the first time, we will simultaneously characterize the magnetic and electronic properties of the single chemical species constituting spinel ferrites catalysts during different solid/gas reactions in operando conditions, with and without the presence of an applied magnetic field. This will be possible through the development and application of a reaction cell that will allow to perform Soft X-Ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism experiments in operando conditions: this will be done modifying the pre-existing operando Soft X-Ray NEXAFS reaction cells developed at the APE-HE beamline of Elettra Synchrotron. The cell will be installed at the SPECIES beamline of MAX IV Synchrotron and the measurements will be conducted exploiting the available circular polarized Synchrotron Radiation. Together with complementary techniques and offline catalytic tests, we will investigate the fundamental aspects of solid/gas magnetocatalysis, building the basis for the development of an innovative green and cheap new type of heterogeneous catalysis