Analysis of Catalysts and Electro-catalyst Systems The    significance    and    influence    of    the    porous    nature    of    catalyst systems   with   respect   to   their   functionality,   performance   and   efficiency is     well     known     as     is     the     importance     of     understanding     the physicochemical      properties      of      the      active      constituents.      The characterisation   of   the   porous   nature   of   catalysts   can   be   applied   to the    active    constituents    and    supports    separately    or    to    the    finished system.    These    principles    can    also    be    applied    to    electro-catalyst systems     and     our     Battery     Materials     page     gives     more     details. Investigations    of    physicochemical    properties    in    order    to    determine activity   and   efficiency   can   also   be   applied   to   the   active   constituents alone   or   to   the   finished   catalytic   system.   All   of   these   properties   can not   only   be   applied   to   new   catalysts   but   also   to   used   and   regenerated materials     as     part     of     investigations     into     their     degradation     and regeneration efficiency.   Key Techniques. Gas Adsorption: pore size, area and volume determination in the mesopore range. Gas Adsorption: BET Surface Area. Micropore Analysis: pore size, area and volume determination in the micropore range. Micropore Analysis: wide choice of adsorbate gases for ultra- micropore characterisation. Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry: pore size, area and volume determination in meso & macropore ranges. Mercury Intrusion / Extrusion Porosimetry: cavity to throat size determination. Chemisorption: active metal surface area and dispersion measurement. Permeability and Tortuosity: measurement by mercury intrusion porosimetry. Temperature Programmed Methods: reduction, oxidation, adsorption & desorption. Density Measurement: absolute density, bulk (envelope) density and skeletal density. MCA   Services   offers   a   complete   suite   of   techniques   for   the   physical characterisation    of    catalyst    systems.    Through    Mercury    porosimetry and   gas   adsorption   with   micropore   analysis,   the   complete   range   of pore   sizes,   from   micropores,   through   mesopores   and   into   macropores can   be   characterised   for   volume,   area   and   pore   size   distributions.   The complete   range   of   pore   sizes   which   can   be   measured   by   combination of   these   techniques   is   in   the   order   of   3   nm   to   650   µm.   Gas   adsorption options    usually    also    provide    the    BET    surface    area    of    the    sample material   as   part   of   the   analysis.   Mercury   porosimetry   options   can   be extended    to    include    the    measurement    of    permeability    and    pore tortuosity.  Whilst    nitrogen    is    traditionally    applied    to    gas    adsorption,    more specialised   adsorbate   options   are   available   for   the   analysis   of   specific sample   materials.   For   example,   characterisation   of   ultra-micropores   (< 1.0   nm)   in   carbon,   charcoal,   graphene,   CNTs   etc   can   be   analysed   by carbon   dioxide   adsorption   whilst   argon   adsorption   is   preferred   when analysing    zeolites,    MOFs    and    ZIFs.    Hydrogen,    oxygen    and    water adsorption   options   are   also   available   as   is   the   measurement   of   the isosteric heat of adsorption from hydrogen isosteres. Chemisorption    (chemical    adsorption)    is    routinely    applied    to    the analysis   of   active   metal   constituents   to   determine   their   availability   for the   desired   catalytic   reaction.   The   active   metal   surface   area   and   active metal   dispersion   are   most   commonly   applied   to   this.   At   MCA   Services we    offer    chemisorption    by    static    volumetric    and    dynamic    (pulse) techniques   and   the   provision   of   a   range   of   sorptive   gases   means   that a   wide   range   of   active   metals   of   varying   loading   can   be   analysed. Hydrogen   and   carbon   monoxide   chemisorption   represent   the   most common    methods    but    other    sorptive    gases    are    available,    such    as amm onia and oxygen. We    have    extensive    experience    in    the    field    of    catalysis    and    the expertise    to    assist    with    the    interpretation    of    results    to    gain    the maximum   insight   into   the   materials   analysed.   Benefits   are   extended through     the     application     of     state-of-the-art     instrumentation     and software    which    provide    the    highest    quality    results    together    with specialised reporting options.