Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2023, Vol. 47: 93-120.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(23)64396-7

• Review • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Advanced in-situ electrochemical scanning probe microscopies in electrocatalysis

Dan-Qing Liua, Bingxing Zhanga, Guoqiang Zhaoa, Jian Chenb, Hongge Pana,b, Wenping Suna,c,*()   

  1. aSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
    bInstitute of Science and Technology for New Energy, Xi'an Technological University, Xi'an 710021, Shaanxi, China
    cState Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, Zhejiang, China
  • Received:2022-11-26 Accepted:2023-01-10 Online:2023-04-18 Published:2023-03-20
  • Contact: *E-mail: wenpingsun@zju.edu.cn (W. Sun).
  • About author:Wenping Sun is a professor at School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University. He received his B.S. degree in 2008 and Ph.D. degree in 2013 in Materials Science from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). His research expertise includes electrocatalysis, fuel cells, and batteries, especially the design of novel materials and structures, and fundamental understandings of related electrochemical processes.
  • Supported by:
    National Key Research and Development Program of China(2202YFB4002503);Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province(LZ22B030006);National Natural Science Foundation of China(52171224);Office of China Postdoc Council(YJ20200165)

Abstract:

Electrocatalysis is critical in improving the energy conversion efficiency, decreasing carbon emissions, and promoting the development of the green energy industry. A deep understanding of the electrocatalytic processes at nanostructured electrochemical interfaces (electrodes) is required to elucidate the electrocatalytic mechanism and facilitate the rational design of electrocatalysts. Electrocatalytic surfaces, which are structurally and compositionally heterogeneous, are usually analyzed using classical macroscopic electrochemical methods that lack the high spatial resolution and temporal sensitivity required for localized electrochemical measurements. In this regard, advances in electrochemical scanning probe microscopy, including electrochemical scanning tunneling, electrochemical atomic force, scanning electrochemical, and scanning electrochemical cell microscopies, offer significant opportunities to study electrocatalytic phenomena at nanometer and ultimately atomic scales during the reaction process. In this review, we first introduce the basic principles, features, and advantages and disadvantages of each technique of these scanning probe microscopies and outline the key advancements of each technique, particularly in investigating electrocatalysis. Subsequently, hybrid techniques of probe microscopy with synergistic effects are introduced. Then, we summarize the recent progress in the application of in-situ characterization methods in electrocatalysis, including hydrogen evolution/oxidation, oxygen evolution, and CO2 reduction reactions, focusing on the structure-activity correlation, structure evolution/stability, adsorption of the reactants or intermediates, preferred reaction pathways, and selectivity. Finally, the challenges and future developments of in-situ scanning probe microscopy in electrocatalysis are discussed.

Key words: Electrochemical scanning probe, microscopies, Electrocatalysis, Reaction mechanism, Structure-activity relationship, Interface