Phase changes studied under in situ conditions—A novel cell

We present a newly developed in situ/operando sample presentation device for radiation based characterization techniques. Although originally designed for use on commercial X-ray diffractometers it has also been successfully used in a high energy light source environment. We could show that the device allows monitoring phase and crystallite size changes at elevated temperatures and pressures under various atmospheres, including corroding gases such as steam. In addition and in contrast to most previously described cells the presented device allows for the collection of fully industrially relevant kinetic data from catalytic processes. As an example we show a comparison of the catalytic performance of a cobalt based Fischer-Tropsch catalyst obtained with the developed device which uses a capillary reactor to a performance test conducted in a standard 1/2” stainless steel laboratory scale reactor.