Electrochemical Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy.
Interfacial properties are highly important to the performance of some energy-related systems. The in-depth understanding of the interface requires highly sensitive in situ techniques that can provide fingerprint molecular information at nanometer resolution. We developed an electrochemical tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (EC-TERS) by introduction of the light horizontally to the EC-STM cell to minimize the optical distortion and to keep the TERS measurement under a well-controlled condition. We obtained potential-dependent EC-TERS from the adsorbed aromatic molecule on a Au(111) surface and observed a substantial change in the molecule configuration with potential as a result of the protonation and deprotonation of the molecule. Such a change was not observable in EC-SERS (surface-enhanced), indicating EC-TERS can more faithfully reflect the fine interfacial structure than EC-SERS. This work will open a new era for using EC-TERS as an important nanospectroscopy tool for the molecular level and nanoscale analysis of some important electrochemical systems including solar cells, lithium ion batteries, fuel cells, and corrosion.
State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and ‡Department of Physics, Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005, China.
Zhi-Cong
ZC
Zeng
State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and ‡Department of Physics, Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005, China.
Sheng-Chao
SC
Huang
State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and ‡Department of Physics, Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005, China.
De-Yin
DY
Wu
State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and ‡Department of Physics, Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005, China.
Ling-Yan
LY
Meng
State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and ‡Department of Physics, Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005, China.
Mao-Hua
MH
Li
State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and ‡Department of Physics, Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005, China.
Teng-Xiang
TX
Huang
State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and ‡Department of Physics, Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005, China.
Jin-Hui
JH
Zhong
State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and ‡Department of Physics, Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005, China.
Xiang
X
Wang
State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and ‡Department of Physics, Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005, China.
Zhi-Lin
ZL
Yang
State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and ‡Department of Physics, Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005, China.
Bin
B
Ren