Investigating porous catalysts with synchrotron X-rays and neutrons

Porous catalysts have been widely used in the industry and are among the most promising candidates to facilitate the transformation to a sustainable society. Their rational design generally adopts the approach of molecular engineering, which relies on a deep understanding of the relations between atomic structures and catalytic properties. In recent years, synchrotron X-ray and neutron techniques have attracted great attention for probing the atomic structures of many functional materials. In this perspective, we look at recent developments in several synchrotron X-ray and neutron techniques for understanding the structure-property relations of porous catalysts at the atomic level. We extensively elucidate the study of both the static and dynamic structures of porous catalysts and their relation to catalytic properties. We highlight the limitations of the synchrotron X-ray and neutron techniques discussed for investigating porous catalysts and provide future research directions on this critical yet underdeveloped topic.