A collaborative team from Zhengzhou University's (ZZU) Chemistry College led by Professors Lv Chao and Liu Zhongyi has developed a novel luminescent probe technology that enables precise identification of critical structural transition points in metal oxide catalysts — from atomic sites to heterointerfaces. The findings were published as an original research article in the journal Nature Communications.
Metal oxide catalysts play a vital role in numerous chemical processes, with their activity highly dependent on atomic sites and interfacial structures. However, accurately detecting the transition points between these configurations has remained a major challenge. While high-resolution transmission electron microscopy offers structural insights, it faces limitations when handling multiple samples with varying doping levels.
To address this, the ZZU team designed a probe system regulated by oxygen adsorption energy. Using ether as an excitation trigger, the method detects luminescence changes that reflect structural evolution in zirconium-doped indium oxide catalysts. The luminescence signal drops significantly at the critical transition point due to lower oxygen adsorption energy, whereas both atomic sites and heterointerfaces — with higher oxygen adsorption and activation capacities — exhibit strong catalytic luminescence.
This unique pattern allows precise identification of structural transitions. Experimental results and theoretical calculations confirm a direct correlation between luminescence intensity and oxygen adsorption/activation capability.
The approach has also been successfully applied to other metal oxide systems, demonstrating broad applicability. It offers a rapid and effective alternative to conventional electron microscopy, opening new pathways for catalyst design and optimization.