The efficiency, lifetime and resilience of emerging electrochemical technologies for green energy conversion and storage, chemical synthesis, and pollution control relies on atomic-level processes occurring at complex catalytic interfaces. Therefore, we need experimental probes that can shed light on the underlying physical and chemical processes occurring at these dynamic electrochemical interfaces, at the nanometer scale, to enable rational design of catalysts.

In this talk, I will demonstrate how advanced surface characterisation techniques such as optical spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy can be used to investigate electrochemical processes relevant for green fuel and chemical production, on interfaces with varying degrees of complexity, from model surfaces to industrially relevant systems. Particularly, I will illustrate how we can identify and quantify the density of potential-dependent intermediates, the degree of interaction between them, and the intrinsic rate of reaction. In addition to determining the changes in the catalyst, I will also show how the nature of interfacial electrolyte can be probed using surface enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy. Using such mechanistic insight, I will demonstrate how we can develop design rules for discovering next-generation catalysts.