Publication date: 15th December 2025
Tailoring the structure of the electrochemical interface is key to elucidating the structure-property relationships and reaction mechanisms in electrocatalysis. Fundamental work on well-defined electrified interfaces is pivotal to understanding the factors controlling the electrocatalytic activity and selectivity in renewable energy conversion reactions. This talk will discuss different strategies to understand the role of the electric double layer structure [1] in electrocatalytic reactions. In situ techniques are key to uncovering the structure of the electrochemical interface, the active sites, and the reaction mechanisms of electrocatalytic reactions for sustainable energy conversion. This talk will illustrate the importance of in situ characterisation combining vibrational spectroscopy and scanning electrochemical microscopy [2] to understand and tune the structure-activity-selectivity relationships for electrocatalytic reactions to produce renewable fuels and chemicals. These reactions include the electrosynthesis of green fuels and value-added chemicals such as sustainable fertilisers using electrochemical carbon dioxide, nitrate, and methane conversion [3-5]. These investigations are key to elucidating interfacial mechanisms and designing active and selective electrocatalytic interfaces.
