Watching Reactions at Solid–Liquid Interfaces with in Situ Raman Spectroscopy

Abstract

Accurate real-time molecular-level monitoring of the physicochemical properties of species at the solid–liquid interfaces under ambient conditions with good temporal and spatial resolution is an end goal of surface science and analytical chemistry. In situ surface-sensitive Raman techniques, chiefly surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), and more recently shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS) have helped to liberate the dependence of surface science on ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) systems. In recent years, owing to the advent of novel surface-sensitive Raman spectroscopic techniques, considerable advancements in understanding have been achieved. Here, our aim is 3-fold: (1) to give a summary of some recent advances of in situ Raman spectroscopic techniques, (2) to discuss some of the applications and fields which in situ Raman spectroscopic interfacial studies have been applied to date, and (3) to give a perspective of in situ Raman spectroscopic techniques for studying solid–liquid interfaces that is accessible to the broader scientific community.

Integrated carbon capture and conversion: A review on C2+ product mechanisms and mechanism-guided strategies

“…Thus, the characterization techniques need to be specifically modified to enable a focus on the solid/liquid interface. Recent developments in characterization techniques like Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, and Ambient-Pressure X-Ray Spectroscopy (APXPS) have been able to overcome these challenges ( Tian & Ren, 2004 ; Zaera, 2014 ; Favaro et al, 2017b ; Salmeron, 2018 ; Lu et al, 2019 ; Han et al, 2021b ; Radjenovic et al, 2021 ; Ye & Liu, 2021 ; Hao et al, 2022 ). Using these characterization tools could enable a deeper understanding of the mechanisms involved in the activation process ( Favaro et al, 2017a ; Qian et al, 2019 ; Qian et al, 2020 ).…”

In Situ/Operando Methods for Understanding Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction Reaction

“…At the same time, this part of photons provides information about the vibration within and between molecules, and further studies the composition or structural characteristics of the material. [ 99 ] In Raman spectroscopy, the abscissa (peak position) qualitatively judges the structural information of the substance, and the ordinate (peak intensity) can be used for quantitative or semi quantitative analysis of the sample. The abscissa is expressed by wave number, and its unit is cm −1 , reflecting the characteristic vibration mode of molecules or ion clusters in the surrounding environment.…”

In‐Situ Characterization Technologies for Electrocatalytic Reduction nitrate to Ammonia on Copper‐Based Catalysts

“…[52,53] When the incident ray irradiates the surface, some photons not only change direction, but also change the frequency, resulting in inelastic scattering at a frequency different from that of the incident ray, and the frequency difference between the scattered and the incident ray is the Raman shift. [54][55][56] The Raman shift is determined by changes in molecular vibrational energy levels, and different chemical bonds and radicals have specific molecular vibrational energy spectra, so that Raman spectroscopy is able to qualitatively analyze the composition of molecular structures. [57] In-situ Raman spectroscopy of dynamic changes in the structure of catalysts can be obtained by monitoring the reaction under electrochemical real-time conditions.…”