Spectroelectrochemistry: Bridging Electrochemical Insights with Optical Spectroscopy
Traditional electrochemical methods are crucial for observing reactions at electrodes but face several limitations: Capacitance currents: Each time the electrode is polarized, it acts like a small capacitor, creating extra current that can interfere with the measurement data. Lack of Specificity: Unless the electrode is specifically functionalized, reactions at the electrode-water interface are often not selective, leading to unwanted side reactions or adsorption processes, complicating the interpretation of results. Electrode Geometry: Variations in electrode size and surface roughness impact the shape of the voltammogram, changing the mass transport profile and electrical capacitances. Identifying Unknown Species: Electrochemical methods are not suitable to identify unknown species that may form as intermediate or product in redox reactions. To address these limitations, researchers often turn to spectroelectrochemistry (SEC), a technique that integrates elec...
