TY - JOUR
T1 - In situ transmission electron microscopy displays the soot oxidation mechanism and structural evolution from nanoscale characterization to macroscopic reactions
T2 - A review
AU - Meng, Zhongwei
AU - Yang, Long
AU - Huang, Junfeng
AU - Gao, Jianbing
AU - Tian, Guohong
AU - Yi, Chengcheng
AU - Li, Yu
AU - Li, Shilong
AU - Wang, Hengxi
AU - Zhan, Lei
AU - Shi, Jie
AU - Yang, Kaiming
AU - Hu, Hefen
AU - Zhang, Juntao
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2026
PY - 2026/9/28
Y1 - 2026/9/28
N2 - Soot originating from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels constitutes a critical threat to public health and ecological stability. With the implementation of stricter emission regulations, particularly regarding particle counts below 10 nm and cold start conditions of internal combustion engine, diesel/gasoline particulate filter (DPF/GPF) regeneration technology, which refers to the gas-solid oxidation of the soot particle at the micro-nano scale, faces considerable challenges as to the sub 10 nm particle emission limit. Insights into the oxidation of soot particles at this scale are indispensable for the precise control and optimize the DPF/GPF regeneration. While conventional macroscopic kinetic studies deliver integral reaction rate parameters, but are incapable of capturing the complex nano-structural evolution of soot particulates in catalytic oxidation process. Recent breakthroughs in in situ transmission electron microscopy (In situ TEM) technology now allow researchers to observe gas-solid reaction processes in real time at the nanoscale and even atomic level. Therefore, this work presents a systematic review of state-of-the-art investigations leveraging in situ TEM to reveal the mechanisms governing soot oxidation, supplemented by evidence from complementary experimental studies. It characterizes the intrinsic correlation between the structural maturity of soot nanostructures and corresponding oxidation pathways, provides a comprehensive analysis of catalyst dynamics at the microscale, and explores the feasibility of integrating quantitative interpretation of in situ imaging data to underpin the development of kinetic models. This review seeks to establish a unified theoretical paradigm linking microscopic physicochemical mechanisms to macroscopic exhaust aftertreatment engineering practices, thereby offering a scientific basis for developing advanced low-temperature, high-efficiency soot oxidation catalysts and rationalizing DPF/GPF regeneration strategy.
AB - Soot originating from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels constitutes a critical threat to public health and ecological stability. With the implementation of stricter emission regulations, particularly regarding particle counts below 10 nm and cold start conditions of internal combustion engine, diesel/gasoline particulate filter (DPF/GPF) regeneration technology, which refers to the gas-solid oxidation of the soot particle at the micro-nano scale, faces considerable challenges as to the sub 10 nm particle emission limit. Insights into the oxidation of soot particles at this scale are indispensable for the precise control and optimize the DPF/GPF regeneration. While conventional macroscopic kinetic studies deliver integral reaction rate parameters, but are incapable of capturing the complex nano-structural evolution of soot particulates in catalytic oxidation process. Recent breakthroughs in in situ transmission electron microscopy (In situ TEM) technology now allow researchers to observe gas-solid reaction processes in real time at the nanoscale and even atomic level. Therefore, this work presents a systematic review of state-of-the-art investigations leveraging in situ TEM to reveal the mechanisms governing soot oxidation, supplemented by evidence from complementary experimental studies. It characterizes the intrinsic correlation between the structural maturity of soot nanostructures and corresponding oxidation pathways, provides a comprehensive analysis of catalyst dynamics at the microscale, and explores the feasibility of integrating quantitative interpretation of in situ imaging data to underpin the development of kinetic models. This review seeks to establish a unified theoretical paradigm linking microscopic physicochemical mechanisms to macroscopic exhaust aftertreatment engineering practices, thereby offering a scientific basis for developing advanced low-temperature, high-efficiency soot oxidation catalysts and rationalizing DPF/GPF regeneration strategy.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105042640538
U2 - 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.138929
DO - 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.138929
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:105042640538
SN - 1383-5866
VL - 406
JO - Separation and Purification Technology
JF - Separation and Purification Technology
M1 - 138929
ER -