Modern surface science faces two
major challenges, a materials
gap and a pressure gap. While studies on single crystal surface in
ultrahigh vacuum have uncovered the atomic and electronic structures
of the surface, the materials and environmental conditions of commercial
catalysis are much more complicated, both in the structure of the
materials and in the accessible pressure range of analysis instruments.
Model systems and operando surface techniques have
been developed to bridge these gaps. In this Review, we highlight
the current trends in the development of the surface characterization
techniques and methodologies in more realistic environments, with
emphasis on recent research efforts at the Korea Advanced Institute
of Science and Technology. We show principles and applications of
the microscopic and spectroscopic surface techniques at ambient pressure
that were used for the characterization of atomic structure, electronic
structure, charge transport, and the mechanical properties of catalytic
and energy materials. Ambient pressure scanning tunneling microscopy
and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy allow us to observe the surface
restructuring that occurs during oxidation, reduction, and catalytic
processes. In addition, we introduce the ambient pressure atomic force
microscopy that revealed the morphological, mechanical, and charge
transport properties that occur during the catalytic and energy conversion
processes. Hot electron detection enables the monitoring of catalytic
reactions and electronic excitations on the surface. Overall, the
information on the nature of catalytic reactions obtained with operando spectroscopic and microscopic techniques may bring
breakthroughs in some of the global energy and environmental problems
the world is facing.