Exploring electrocatalytic reactions on nanomaterial surface can give crucial information for the development of robust catalysts. In our work, electrocatalytic reaction activity at quantum dots (QDs) involved in water oxidation is visualized using electrochemiluminescence (ECL) microscopy. Under positive potential, the active redox centers at QDs induce the generation of hydroperoxide surface intermediates as coreactant to remarkably enhance ECL emission from luminol derivative for imaging. For the first time, in situ visualization of catalytic activity in water oxidation at QDs catalyst was achieved, supported by a linear relation between ECL intensity and turn over frequency. A very slight diffusion trend attributed to only luminol species proved in situ capture of hydroperoxide surface intermediates at catalytic active sites of QDs. Our work provides tremendous potential in on-line imaging of electrocatalytic reaction and visual evaluation of catalyst performance.

In situ visualization of electrocatalytic reaction activity at quantum dots for water oxidation

256th National Meeting (2018)

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