The application of thermomicroscopy to the temperature programmed reduction in metal oxides

Thermomicroscopy, or hot-stage microscopy, is primarily used in the analysis of organic materials such as pharmaceuticals and polymers. However, its potential application to the study of inorganic systems remains largely unexplored. A thermomicroscope was developed utilising red, green, blue (RGB) colour profiles and individual micrographs taken at fixed temperatures to follow temperature programmed reduction processes under a hydrogen atmosphere. The instrument was used for the study of the reduction in the oxides of silver, copper, lead, and cobalt. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the frst time that temperature programmed reduction processes have been followed using thermomicroscopy and our results suggest the presence of transient intermediate phases within the lead oxide and cobalt oxide systems