Many surface science techniques, such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), collect information from inherently surface-sensitive low-energy processes, requiring operation in ultrahigh vacuum. This constraint is lifted for ambient pressure XPS, which can probe the surface in equilibrium with the gas phase at pressures up to ~a few Torr, or with thin liquid layers using a higher incident photon energy. This presentation will discuss the insights obtained with this technique regarding the electronic structure of oxide electrocatalysts in an oxidizing or humid environment, as well as the reaction intermediates of relevance to electrocatalysis. We will then extend the technique to probe electrocatalysts in operando, driving current through a thin layer of liquid electrolyte and employing a tender X-ray source.

Probing the electronic structure of oxide electrocatalysts and the formation of reaction intermediates

ACS Spring 2022

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