Electron-Irradiation-Stimulated Atomic-Scale Structural Dynamics of the Pentagonal Channel in a Complex MoVTeNbOx Catalyst.

The complex (Mo,V)-based multicomponent M1 phase with a characteristic network of pentagonal, hexagonal, and heptagonal channels is the key catalyst for the catalytic oxidation from propane to acrylic acid. Herein, the atomic-scale structural dynamics in the orthorhombic Mo-V-Te-Nb oxide were probed under electron-beam stimulation. The recorded in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy images unravel the strong bonding and correlation between the (Mo,V)O6 octahedra and the central Nb moieties in the pentagonal channels. Such dynamic electron microscopy imaging can pave the way to chemically tailoring structural units of a general catalogue of functional polyoxo meta lates through applying top-down electron-beam probing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]