Physicists employ various experimental and theoretical methods to study catalysis:
Spectroscopy: Techniques like X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and infrared spectroscopy (IR) are used to investigate the electronic and structural properties of catalysts. Computational Modeling: Quantum mechanical simulations, such as density functional theory (DFT), provide insights into the interaction between catalysts and reactants, allowing for the prediction of reaction pathways and activation energies. Microscopy: Advanced microscopy techniques, such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), enable the visualization of catalyst surfaces and the detection of active sites at the atomic scale.
