Instrumentation of the Department of Structure and Dynamics in Catalysis

A: Major Equipment - Preparation

1) 500 MHz MAS NMR spectrometer Bruker Avance III HD 500 WB/US NMR (upgrade 2013)

  • 7-mm N-P/H probehead
  • 4-mm N-P/H-F probehead
  • 4-mm X/Y/H probehead
  • 3.2-mm N-P/H-F probehead
  • 2.5-mm N-P/F-H probehead

2) Equipment for liquid phase synthesis 

  • Autoclave 0.55 l, 20 - 220 °C, 0 - 150 bar, Stainless steel DIN WNr. 1.4571/1.4404 (AISI 316Ti/316L)
  • Autoclave 0.55 l, 20 - 220 °C, 0 - 150 bar, Hastelloy C22
  • Autoclave 2.2 l, 20 - 250 °C, 0 - 200 bar, Stainless steel
  • Autoclave 3.2 l, 20 - 220 °C, 0 - 150 bar, Stainless steel
  • Speedwave four for synthesis of nanomaterials - Microwave digestion system with built-in, non-contact temperature and pressure measurements

3) UV-Vis-NIR spectrometer Perkin-Elmer Lambda 950 

  • Two integrating sphere attachments for diffuse-reflectance measurements at UV-Vis-NIR with spectralon coating
  • Integrating sphere attachment for diffuse-reflectance measurements at NIR with coating by gold
  • Harrick through flow cell for elevated temperatures for measurements with praying mantis
  • Home-made through flow cell for elevated temperatures for measurements with integrating sphere

4) Three FTIR spectrometers Nexus 670 e.s.p. (Thermo Nicolet Co.) 

  • MKS detectors
  • DTGS KBr
  • ATR and reflectance accessories
  • High-low pressure IR reactor In-Situ Research - Instruments, USA equipped by AvaSpec-2048FT Fast Trigger Fiber Optic UV-Vis Spectrometer Avantes and MS gas analysis.

5) Catalytic apparatuses

  • Computerized catalytic reactors for hydrocarbon transformations equipped with gas chromatograph with GC (HP 5890, HP 6890, HP 5971A, HP 6850, Finnigan 9001 with GC-FID, TCD, MSD) and MS detection (GC-MS spectrometer Agilent, Quadrupole mass spectrometers QMA 125, QMG 421C, QMG 420)
  • Computerized Microactivity-Reference catalytic reactors PIDENG&TECH with gas chromatography detection
  • Computerized catalytic reactors for N2O/NO/NO2 abatement reactions with NO/NOx chemoluminescence analyzers VAMET, Analyzer Advanced Optima 200/Limas 11HW ABB, N2O analytical system Advance Optima Hartmann & Brown and GC detection


B: Available Methods

1) Liquid phase bath synthesis 

  • Synthesis in 100 ml - 2.2 l autoclaves 
  • Acid or base corrosive environment
  • Hydrothermal synthesis and preparation of inorganic materials including zeolites
  • Modification of catalysts forms (acid, base, redox) by ion exchanges and impregnations
  • Basic characterization of products (XRD, SEM, N2 adsorption)

2) Characterization of catalytic activity of acid and base heterogeneous catalysts

  • Through-flow catalytic experiments, including elevated pressure
  • Batch catalysts and kinetic testing (100 ml - 2.2 l autoclaves)
  • GC and MAS spectroscopy analysis of products

3) Characterization of acid and base heterogeneous inorganic catalysts

  • Characterization of acidic properties by TPD and FTIR spectroscopy of adsorbed probes
  • Characterization of redox properties by TPR, FTIR spectroscopy and UV-Vis spectroscopy
  • Characterization of sorption properties of catalysts, XRD, SEM

4) NMR spectroscopy of inorganic solids

  • 500 MHZ MAS NMR spectrometer, N-P/H and Al/Si/H experiments
  • Setup for treatment/evacuation of samples & sealing prior spectra measurement

5) UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy in transition and diffuse-reflectance mode

  • Measurement of liquids, powders, turbid media
  • Measurement in transmission, reflection and diffuse reflection mode
  • Harric and home-made through-flow cells for measurement at elevated temperatures and different gases

6) FTIR spectroscopy in transition and diffuse-reflectance mode

  • Measurement in transmission and diffuse reflectance mode
  • Home-made cells for measurement in different atmospheres and treatment of sampúles at elevated temperatures
  • Through flow cell for in situ measurement at elevated temperatures

8) Testing the photocatalytic performance of powders and layers

  • Degradation of aqueous pollutants
  • Degradation of gaseous pollutants according to ISO standards


C: Auxiliary equipment

1) Fiber Optic UV-Vis Spectrometers 

  • Two UV-Vis spectrometers AvaSpec-2048FT Fast Trigger Avantes
  • UV-Vis spectrophotometer VWR

2) TPD/TPR AMI-200 catalyst characterization system Altamira Instruments

Department of Structure and Dynamics in Catalysis