Advanced spectroscopic, microscopic, and compositional techniques in catalytic material characterization: Applications and progress

Catalytic reactions play a key role in energy production, green chemistry, and chemical synthesis, and are the cornerstone for addressing global challenges such as environmental pollution and energy crisis. The design and performance optimization of efficient catalysts rely on a deep understanding of their structural characteristics, electronic states, and kinetic behaviors during reactions, and advanced characterization techniques provide key technical support. This review summarizes the applications, advantages, and limitations of spectroscopic techniques (X-ray absorption spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, Raman spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and electron paramagnetic resonance), microscopic imaging techniques (transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy), and component analysis techniques (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) in catalytic research. These techniques can provide multi-dimensional insights into the microstructure of catalysts, the properties of active sites, and their evolution during reactions, laying a solid foundation for elucidating catalytic mechanisms and optimizing catalyst performance. Although current characterization methods still face challenges in spatial resolution, compatibility with extreme reaction conditions, and data processing complexity, significant progress is expected through emerging strategies such as multi-technique integration and artificial intelligence-assisted analysis. This review aims to provide a reference for researchers in the field of catalysis and a forward-looking perspective for the development of characterization techniques.