Solid catalysts are the workhorses that convert feedstock molecules into fuels, chemicals and materials. Solid catalysts are highly complex, porous, multi-elemental and often hierarchically structured materials. Scientists are therefore confronted with a formidable challenge to understand the functioning of solid catalysts and, based on this knowledge, to design and make materials with superior performance and overall stability. In this Review, we summarize the latest developments in the spatial and temporal characterization of solid catalysts using synchrotron radiation to uncover their structure and function. Attention is focused on applications using either X-rays or infrared light available from synchrotron radiation sources. In these applications, microscopy and microspectroscopy are used to study heterogeneous catalysts under working conditions and at different length scales, more specifically, from the level of a microreactor down to a single catalyst particle. Finally, we offer a perspective on what instrumental developments at synchrotron radiation sources may bring to realize the dream of recording a molecular movie of a solid catalyst at high temperature and pressure.

固体催化剂是将原料分子转化为燃料，化学物质和材料的主力军。固体催化剂是高度复杂的，多孔的，多元素的并且通常是分层结构的材料。因此，科学家们面临着艰巨的挑战，即要了解固体催化剂的功能，并基于此知识，设计和制造具有优异性能和整体稳定性的材料。在这篇综述中，我们总结了使用同步加速器辐射揭示其结构和功能的固体催化剂的时空表征的最新进展。注意集中在使用可从同步加速器辐射源获得的X射线或红外光的应用中。在这些应用中 显微镜和显微技术用于研究工作条件和不同长度比例下的非均相催化剂，更具体地讲，从微反应器的水平到单个催化剂颗粒。最后，我们就同步加速器辐射源上的仪器发展可能带来的成就，提出了实现在高温和高压下记录固体催化剂分子电影的梦想的观点。