Monitoring surface dynamics of electrodes during electrocatalysis using in situ synchrotron FTIR spectroscopy

Abstract

Monitoring the surface dynamics of catalysts under working conditions is important for a deep understanding of the underlying electrochemical mechanisms towards efficient energy conversion and storage. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy with high surface sensitivity has been considered as a powerful tool for detecting surface adsorbates, but it faces a great challenge when being adopted in surface dynamics investigations during electrocatalysis due to the complication and influence of aqueous environments. This work reports a well designed FTIR cell with tunable micrometre-scale water film over the surface of working electrodes and dual electrolyte/gas channels for in situ synchrotron FTIR tests. By coupling with a facile single-reflection infrared mode, a general in situ synchrotron radiation FTIR (SR-FTIR) spectroscopic method is developed for tracking the surface dynamics of catalysts during the electrocatalytic process. As an example, in situ formed key *OOH is clearly observed on the surface of commercial benchmark IrO2 catalysts during the electrochemical oxygen evolution process based on the developed in situ SR-FTIR spectroscopic method, which demonstrates its universality and feasibility in surface dynamics studies of electrocatalysts under working conditions.