Characterisation
Active Site Studies
We have a range of tools at our lab to help you with your characterisation requirements. The techniques we offer include but not limited to:
- Temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO) with mass-spectrometry detection
- Temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) with mass-spectrometry detection
- Adsorption and temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia with mass-spectrometry detection
- Adsorption and temperature-programmed desorption of pyridine with mass-spectrometry detection
- Chemisorption of carbon monoxide (CO) with mass-spectrometry detection
- Chemisorption of hydrogen (H2) with mass-spectrometry detection
- Temperature-programmed desorption and desorption of probe molecules
- Surface area and porosity (BET surface area, BJH pore volume, pore volume distribution)
- Gas and HPLC chromatography (GC, HPLC)
- UV absorption and photoluminescence


Advanced Surface Analysis
Working closely with the several universities, we provide advanced analytical techniques.
Advantages of choosing us: we suggest the studies required to suit your needs, provide full interpretation, and rapid turnaround.
Talk to us to discuss your problem and the most efficient way to solve it.
- X-Ray techniques including powder X-ray diffraction or single-crystal X-ray diffraction
- Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
- High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM)
- Scanning electron microscopy including energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM)
- Elemental mapping and elemental analysis with X-ray fluorescence (XRF)
- Solution phase nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
- Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)
Bespoke Characterisation
We love a challenge! We are willing to provide an innovative solution to meet your demands. We offer bespoke characterisation facilities that require building dedicated testing systems. These include thermal conductivity and capacity for materials, high-temperature catalyst attrition studies. We have recently completed challenging in-situ X-ray absorption (XAS) studies, over a large temperature range, at the Diamond Light source in Harwell.

Case Studies
Temperature Programmed Oxidation of Cu Catalyst | Case Study
Background Temperature programmed oxidation (TPO) is a versatile materials characterisation tool used in catalysis for the elucidation of surface chemistry in catalytic materials. The underlying principle of the technique is simple, hydrogen or oxygen are passed over...
Pyridine Chemisorption analysis service for characterisation of acid sites
We have recently published a case study on the pyridine chemisorption services we perform which determine the number of the corresponding acid sites in a material.
Characterisation-directed kilo catalyst scale-up
We manufactured 10 kg catalyst using characterisation to validate the scale-up procedure from lab to manufacturing processes.
X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS)
We completed in situ synchrotron studies of a customer’s catalyst at the Diamond Light Source Facility.