Invited Paper PC+AS+BI+EM+PB+SS-WeM1
Probing Chemical Species and Potential Profiles of Electrified Interfaces

Wednesday, October 24, 2018, 8:00 am, Room 202A

Interfaces play an important role in nearly all aspects of life, and are essential for electrochemistry. Electrochemical systems ranging from high temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) to batteries to capacitors have a wide range of important interfaces between solids, liquids, and gases which play a pivotal role in how energy is stored, transferred, and/or converted. This talk will focus on our use of ambient pressure XPS (APXPS) to directly probe the solid/liquid electrochemical interface. In particular, I will discuss how we were able to probe the potential drop within the electrochemical double layer (EDL) as well as the potential of zero charge under polarization conditions. This unique approach was accomplished by measuring spectral changes observed in both the electrolyte (water) and a neutral spectator probing molecule (pyrazine). By combining these experiments with numerical simulations provided the ability to discern the shape of the electrochemical double layer profile as a function of both electrolyte concentration and applied potentials. Extending beyond the EDL, I will highlight some of our recent investigations into both the oxygen evolution reaction on a platinum electrode as well as a magnesium electrode in a non-aqueous electrolyte. Information gained from these studies will aid in the guided design and control of future electrochemical interfaces.