Story perspectives

Study Reveals Oxygen Transfer Dynamics at Metal-Support Interfaces

4/16/2026

Summary

Story summary

Researchers using in situ environmental transmission electron microscopy discovered that lattice oxygen moves directly from the TiO2 substrate to Ru particles through the Ru/TiO2 interface, not via surface diffusion.
The process strains the TiO2 lattice at the subsurface, creating channels for oxygen.
The study shows structural adaptability at the metal-support interface controls oxygen spillover, active in Ru/rutile-TiO2 and inactive in Ru/anatase-TiO2.
It emphasizes engineered metal-support interfaces for improving catalytic reactions.

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Story summary

Researchers using in situ environmental transmission electron microscopy discovered that lattice oxygen moves directly from the TiO2 substrate to Ru particles through the Ru/TiO2 interface, not via surface diffusion.
The process strains the TiO2 lattice at the subsurface, creating channels for oxygen.
The study shows structural adaptability at the metal-support interface controls oxygen spillover, active in Ru/rutile-TiO2 and inactive in Ru/anatase-TiO2.
It emphasizes engineered metal-support interfaces for improving catalytic reactions.