Observing Electrocatalytic Processes via In Situ Electrochemical Scanning Tunneling Microscopy: Latest Advances

Electrocatalysis is the foundation of many techniques currently used to address environmental and energy problems. Therefore, understanding the electrocatalytic processes is essential to guide the rational design of electrocatalysts. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), developed in the 1980s, remains one of the few techniques that allow surface imaging at the atomic level, making it incredibly useful in electrocatalytic research. In this review, we introduced the basic concept and latest applications of the STM technique for in situ studies of electrocatalytic processes, particularly its capability in active site identification, species adsorption/desorption analysis, surface reconstruction imaging, and electrocatalyst dissolution detection, as well as its advantages and limitations. Seeing is believing: In this review, we discuss the latest applications of STM, one of the few techniques enabling surface imaging at the atomic level, in the context of in situ observation of electrocatalytic processes. Its ability to analyze species adsorption/desorption, surface reconstruction, active site identification, and electrocatalyst dissolution is outlined.