Cell for the in situ study of heterogeneous catalysts by transmission and fluorescence XAS spectroscopy

A simple cell, assembled with commercial parts, suitable for in situ X‐ray‐absorption spectroscopy measurements of heterogeneous catalysts, has been designed. The cell, light and easy to handle, allows thermal treatments of the sample under investigation up to 823 K in a reducing or oxidizing atmosphere and measurements at both high and liquid‐nitrogen temperature. The cell was tested by studying the decomposition, in an oxygen flow, of ammonium metatungstate to WO3. Extended X‐ray absorption fine‐structure measurements of the ammonium metatungstate before and after a thermal treatment at 773 K are reported.