One of the key challenges in heterogeneous catalysis is to develop an understanding of how the properties of the interface give rise to catalytic activity. These interfacial characteristics are often highly complex, especially in the case of electrocatalytic interfaces whose properties are jointly determined by solid electrode and liquid electrolyte. Moreover, the chemical and structural characteristics of the vast majority of catalytic interfaces evolve under operating conditions. The structural complexity and dynamic nature of the catalytic interface pose formidable experimental challenges for the establishment of property-activity relationships. In this talk, we will discuss our recent efforts of combining surface-selective infrared spectroscopy of the electrocatalytic interface with online electrochemical mass spectrometry. We will demonstrate the application of this apparatus in the context of the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide on copper electrodes. Specifically, we will show how we can spectroscopically probe the properties of the copper/electrolyte contact, including its electrostatic characteristics and the CO surface coverage, while simultaneously monitoring hydrocarbons evolving from this electrochemical interface.

Simultaneous probing of the copper/electrolyte interface by surface-selective infrared spectroscopy and online electrochemical mass spectrometry

256th National Meeting (2018)

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