In the present paper, we devise a version of topological L 2 -Serre duality for singular complex spaces with arbitrary singularities. This duality is used to deduce various new L 2 -vanishing theorems for the ∂-equation on singular spaces. It is shown that complex spaces with rational singularities behave quite tame with respect to the ∂-equation in the L 2 -sense. More precisely: a singular point is rational if and only if the L 2 -∂ s -complex is exact in this point. So, we obtain an L 2 -∂-resolution of the structure sheaf in rational singular points.