“…Typically, this transition is thermally driven, 31 but studies have shown that it can also be induced by the application of an external current. 32,33 We propose that the change in DBT oxidation behavior for the FeO x (OH) y film after 3 hours of electrolysis is related to a structural transformation during the induction period of the electrolysis, and the resultant "activated" iron film is what catalyzes the DBT oxidation. To probe that hypothesis, we used Raman spectroscopy to characterize the films before and after electrolysis.…”