In a TPD experiment, a catalyst sample is initially exposed to a gas or vapor to allow adsorption of the species of interest. The sample is then placed in a controlled environment where the temperature is systematically increased. As the temperature rises, adsorbed species begin to desorb from the catalyst surface. The desorbed species are typically detected using a mass spectrometer or a thermal conductivity detector, providing a desorption profile that can be analyzed to infer various properties.
