Single-Molecule Fluorescence Imaging of Energy-Related Catalytic Reactions

Abstract

The pressing challenges of the energy crisis and environmental problems necessitate the pursuit of efficient and sustainable energy conversion technologies, wherein catalytic processes play a vital role in addressing these issues. Single-molecule fluorescence microscopy (SMFM) offers a transformative approach to understanding various catalytic reactions by enabling real-time visualization of molecular adsorption, diffusion, and transformation on catalytic surfaces. The unprecedented insights into the spatial distribution of active sites, catalytic heterogeneity, and the dynamics of key intermediates result in single- or subparticle level structure–property relations, thereby offering insightful perspectives for catalyst design and mechanistic understanding of energy-related catalytic processes. In this review, we provide an overview of the recent progress in using SMFM for investigating energy-related catalytic reactions. The advancement in SMFM imaging techniques for investigating nonfluorescent chemical processes is also highlighted. Finally, we conclude the review by commenting on the current challenges and prospects in advancing SMFM in energy research. We hope that the capable SMFM imaging techniques and insights will promote the development and realistic application of various energy-related catalytic reactions, together with inspiring researchers to explore the power of SMFM in other applications.