Session Three, In-situ Methods

The main topics of the presentations and the discussions in this session were synchrotron radiation techniques, in particular X-ray absorption spectroscopy, (EXAFS and NEXAFS), infra-red spectroscopy and scanning tunnelling microscopy. Transient methods are discussed in session 5 by Frennet and UV/visible spectroscopy is mentioned briefly by Rooney, (session 1). Some other in-situ techniques, like electron microscopy on catalytic reactors, positron emission tomography and the wider use of radio-active isotopes in studies on the mechanism, were therefore outside the scope of the workshop. However, the choice of the techniques to be discussed was not just incidental and the discussion confirmed the merits and a good future for the above mentioned techniques in catalysis.