Reaction-pathway resolved multimode imaging of electrocatalytic oxygen evolution on single silver nanowires@ITO...

Area of Science:

• Electrocatalysis
• Materials Science
• Surface Chemistry

Background:

• Mott-Schottky (MS) junctions are crucial in electrocatalysis for modulating charge distribution and improving catalyst performance.
• Understanding interfacial reaction mechanisms at high spatiotemporal and chemical resolution *in situ* is a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel time-synchronized multimode optical imaging platform for visualizing MS electrocatalytic systems.
• To investigate the interfacial electrooxidation dynamics and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) pathways in a model AgNWs@ITO MS junction.
• To elucidate the role of the MS effect in regulating interfacial charge distribution and reaction mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Development of a time-synchronized multimode optical imaging platform.
• Multi-perspective *in situ* visualization of a model Mott-Schottky (AgNWs@ITO) electrocatalytic system.
• Analysis of electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) pathways and interfacial dynamics.

Main Results:

• The MS effect was shown to regulate reaction mechanisms by redistributing interfacial charges.
• A superoxide radical-mediated reaction pathway was identified in the AgNWs@ITO MS junction.
• Superoxide radical scavengers demonstrated a specific regulatory effect on the AgNWs@ITO system.
• The potential active role of the ITO substrate in electrocatalysis was highlighted.

Conclusions:

• The Mott-Schottky nanostructure effectively modulates electrochemical reaction pathways, specifically via superoxide radical mediation.
• The developed multi-resolved imaging approach is vital for analyzing fundamental mechanisms in heterogeneous catalysis.
• This study underscores the importance of considering substrate contributions in electrocatalytic research.