Catalyst lifetime studies typically involve a combination of experimental and analytical techniques:
Accelerated Testing: Catalysts are subjected to extreme conditions to quickly simulate long-term usage and observe degradation patterns. Real-Time Monitoring: Techniques like in-situ spectroscopy and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) are used to monitor catalyst performance in real-time. Post-Mortem Analysis: After the catalyst has been used, it is analyzed using methods like scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to understand the causes of deactivation.