- Spatial Resolution: Many techniques cannot achieve the atomic-scale resolution needed to observe individual active sites. - Temporal Resolution: Capturing fast catalytic processes in real-time is difficult, as most techniques require longer acquisition times. - Sample Environment: Many high-resolution techniques require conditions (e.g., low temperatures, high vacuum) that differ from actual catalytic environments, potentially skewing results. - Sensitivity: Detecting low concentrations of intermediates or products can be challenging, leading to incomplete mechanistic insights.
