Modulation Excitation X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy to Probe Surface Species on Heterogeneous Catalysts

The advantages and open questions of the combination of modulation excitation spectroscopy and phase sensitive detection (PSD) with X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) for the analysis of heterogeneous catalysts at work are reviewed. The characteristic spectral signatures of two different edges (Pd K and Pt L-3) are described in relation to the red-ox chemistry of Pd/Al2O3 and Pt/Al2O3 with respect to NO reduction by CO and CO oxidation, respectively. Both examples demonstrate that PSD makes XAS sensitive to potentially active species for the catalytic reaction.