What are the Challenges and Limitations of TIRFM in Catalysis?
Despite its advantages, TIRFM also has some challenges and limitations:
- Fluorophore Labeling: The need to label molecules with fluorophores can sometimes alter their behavior or interactions, potentially affecting the accuracy of observations. - Depth Limitation: TIRFM is limited to studying events occurring within a few hundred nanometers of the surface, making it unsuitable for investigating bulk processes. - Complex Sample Preparation: Preparing samples with uniform and well-defined surfaces can be challenging, especially for heterogeneous catalysts. - Photobleaching: Prolonged exposure to the evanescent wave can lead to photobleaching of fluorophores, reducing signal intensity over time.
