A thesis submitted to the Nanyang Technological University in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of Chemistry First and foremost, I would like to thank Nanyang Technological University (NTU) for awarding me the Nanyang President's Graduate Scholarship, and giving me opportunities to attending 2 conferences which has broadened my horizons both scientifically and personally. I would also like to thank my PhD supervisor, Assoc. Prof. Richard David Webster, for accepting me into his group without prior experience, for providing guidance over these 4 years, for giving me space and freedom to explore the field, for understanding, for never having any harsh words and being really great to talk to even for non-electrochemistry topics. Much love to my lunch buddies, Gwen, Shu Jun, Novi, for being the best part of these 4 years, making me look forward to school every day. Also, I am really thankful to my student Jiamin, for being so reliable, meticulous and determined. I could not have done it without you, and could not have asked for a better student! To all Gwen's ex-students and my ex-lunch buddies (Marcus, Shu Jun, Li Zhen, Li Lin and Wen Hui), it has been great knowing all of you! Special thanks to Shu Jun and Novi for the last few months, starving yourselves till 2 pm to lunch with me, to Novi for stepping up without complaints to help me with data collection, to Yanni for always being so kind and sweet, and to Diane for understanding! Also, thanks to Shu Hui for our dinners, for working late together and for the trips home. To Colin, thanks for your friendship and "thanks" for scaring me while making sure I am not holding any glassware. To Weejian, thanks for your kind notes of encouragement during my FYP days, and being the kind of friend that sticks around. To Boon Hong, thanks for being mature and understanding, for helping me with ithenticate II and so much more, you are truly a much better person than you are given credit for! You are friends I wish I knew earlier and hope to keep for many years to come! To my other labmates,