Operando spectroscopies and heterogeneous olefin polymerization catalysis: A rare marriage with a lot of potential beyond usual understanding

This short review summarizes the main results achieved in the field of operando spectroscopies applied to heterogeneous catalysts for olefin polymerization. Following a chronological order, starting from the first spectroscopic measurements applied to the Phillips catalyst, the review retraces the main stages of this exciting story, reporting also some details on the experimental set-ups adopted from time to time, the difficulties encountered, the failures, and the solutions taken to address the problems. What emerges is a dynamic picture with still many unexplored potentialities, even though unfortunately limited to a few research groups systematically engaged in this field.