Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Interfacial Electrochemical Methods: Overview

Interfacial Electrochemical Methods: Overview

Interfacial electrochemical methods focus on the phenomena occurring at the boundary between an electrode and a solution, as opposed to bulk methods that concentrate on the solution's overall properties. These interfacial methods are classified as either static or dynamic based on the presence of a nonzero current in the electrochemical cell and the consistency of analyte concentrations. Static methods, such as potentiometry, measure the cell's potential without any significant current passing...

Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview

Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview

Electrocyclic reactions are reversible reactions. They involve an intramolecular cyclization or ring-opening of a conjugated polyene. Shown below are two examples of electrocyclic reactions. In the first reaction, the formation of the cyclic product is favored. In contrast, in the second reaction, ring-opening is favored due to the high ring strain associated with cyclobutene formation.

Processes at Electrodes

Processes at Electrodes

The electrode interacts with ions in the electrolyte solution at its interface. The rate of oxidation and reduction depends on the speed at which electrons can transfer through this interface. As ions attach to or leave the electrode surface, the electrode acquires a charge, and an electrical potential forms across the interface, making the process more difficult to reach equilibrium. The charge on the electrode affects the local ion concentrations in the solution, though thermal motion...

Electrochemical Systems

Electrochemical Systems

Electrochemical systems provide a fascinating insight into the dynamic interplay of charged species within various phases. One notable example is the interaction between a membrane permeable to K⁺ ions but not to Cl⁻ ions, separating an aqueous KCl solution from pure water. As K⁺ ions diffuse through the membrane, they generate net charges on each phase, leading to a potential difference between them.Similarly, when a piece of Zn is immersed in an aqueous ZnSO₄ solution, the Zn metal, composed...

Electrochemistry: Overview

Electrochemistry: Overview

Electrochemistry is the branch of chemistry that studies the relationship between electrical quantities and chemical reactions, particularly oxidation and reduction. Oxidation is the loss of electrons from a substance, whereas reduction refers to the gain of electrons. A substance with a strong electron affinity is called an oxidizing agent (oxidant), and a reducing agent (reductant) is a species that donates electrons. Oxidation and reduction processes are pivotal to electrochemical reactions,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Discovery of a Robust Single-Atom Ruthenium Emission Control Catalyst.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2026

Same author

Competitive Solvation-Driven Interface Stabilization for Protic Deep Eutectic Solid Electrolyte in Sodium-Metal Batteries.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2026

Same author

Recent Advances of Atomic/Molecular Layer Deposition Engineering Silicon Interface for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Nano-micro letters·2026

Same author

"Built-in Electric Field" Design Enables Rapid Li<sup>+</sup> Transport in Polymer Electrolyte.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2026

Same author

Catalytic Functional Domain Enables Rapid Li<sup>+</sup> Conduction in Polyether Electrolytes for Quasi-Solid-State Batteries.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026

Same author

Two-dimensional p-π conjugated amide-linked polymeric photocatalysts with enhanced carrier separation.

Nature communications·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Solar-Driven Electrochemical Green Fuel Production from CO2 and Water Using Ti3C2Tx MXene-Supported CuZn and NiCo Catalysts

Solar-Driven Electrochemical Green Fuel Production from CO₂ and Water Using Ti₃C₂T_x MXene-Supported CuZn and NiCo Catalysts

Published on: November 7, 2025

Engineering Interfacial Water for Advanced Electrocatalytic CO₂ Reduction: From Molecular Understanding to Materials

Yongzhe Xia¹, Ping Guan¹, Kaian Sun¹

¹Institute of New Energy Materials and Engineering, Fujian Engineering Research Center of High Energy Batteries and New Energy Equipment & Systems, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China.

Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)

|June 2, 2026

Summary

Interfacial water is key for efficient electrocatalytic CO2 reduction (CO2RR). Understanding and controlling interfacial water properties can boost CO2RR activity and selectivity, overcoming current challenges in converting CO2 into valuable products.

Keywords:

carbon dioxide electroreduction in situ spectroscopy interfacial engineering interfacial water

More Related Videos

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO₂ Reduction

Published on: April 10, 2018

Multiscale Sampling of a Heterogeneous Water/Metal Catalyst Interface using Density Functional Theory and Force-Field Molecular Dynamics

Multiscale Sampling of a Heterogeneous Water/Metal Catalyst Interface using Density Functional Theory and Force-Field Molecular Dynamics

Published on: April 12, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Solar-Driven Electrochemical Green Fuel Production from CO2 and Water Using Ti3C2Tx MXene-Supported CuZn and NiCo Catalysts

Solar-Driven Electrochemical Green Fuel Production from CO₂ and Water Using Ti₃C₂T_x MXene-Supported CuZn and NiCo Catalysts

Published on: November 7, 2025

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO₂ Reduction

Published on: April 10, 2018

Multiscale Sampling of a Heterogeneous Water/Metal Catalyst Interface using Density Functional Theory and Force-Field Molecular Dynamics

Multiscale Sampling of a Heterogeneous Water/Metal Catalyst Interface using Density Functional Theory and Force-Field Molecular Dynamics

Published on: April 12, 2019

Area of Science:

Electrochemistry
Catalysis
Surface Science

Background:

Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction (CO2RR) converts CO2 to fuels, but faces challenges in activity and stability.
Research has focused on catalysts, often overlooking the crucial role of interfacial water.
Interfacial water influences CO2RR selectivity by acting as a proton donor and affecting water dissociation.

Purpose of the Study:

To systematically review the fundamental properties of interfacial water in CO2RR.
To classify strategies for modulating interfacial water and assess their impact on CO2RR performance.
To highlight the effect of interfacial water structure on CO2RR mechanisms and characterization.

Main Methods:

Literature review and systematic summarization of existing research.
Classification of strategies for interfacial water modulation.
Analysis of the relationship between interfacial water structure and CO2RR performance.

Main Results:

Interfacial water plays a critical role in CO2RR, influencing the competition with hydrogen evolution reaction.
The hydrogen-bond network of interfacial water can lower the water dissociation barrier, enhancing CO2RR selectivity.
Strategies exist to modulate interfacial water, impacting CO2RR activity and product distribution.

Conclusions:

A deeper understanding of interfacial water is essential for advancing CO2RR technology.
Modulating interfacial water offers a promising avenue for designing high-efficiency CO2RR catalysts.
This review provides a framework for future research and catalyst design in CO2RR.