3?D X?ray Nanotomography Reveals Different Carbon Deposition Mechanisms in a Single Catalyst Particle

Catalyst deactivation involves a complex interplay of processes taking place at different length and time scales. Understanding this phenomenon is one the grand challenges in solid catalyst characterization. A process contributing to carbon deposition (i. e., coking), which reduces activity by limiting diffusion blocking active sites. However, characterizing coke formation its effects remains challenging as it both organic inorganic phase catalytic scales from atomic scale body. Here we present combination hard X-ray imaging techniques able visualize 3-D distribution, effect nature deposits macro-pore space an entire industrially used particle. Our findings provide direct evidence for promoting metal poisons, pore clogging coke, correlation between location. These results better understanding coking process, relation new insights into efficiency industrial fluid cracking.