Structure and Dissociation of Water at the Electrode-Solution Interface Studied by In Situ Vibrational Spectroscopic Techniques.

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In aqueous electrochemistry, water in contact with charged surfaces is ubiquitous and indispensable, dictating the binding of solutes to electrode surfaces as well as the transport process of protons and electrons in the interfacial region. A comprehensive understanding of the structure and dissociation of interfacial water at the molecular level is extremely important yet challenging, given its critical role in various physical, chemical, and biological processes. In situ vibrational spectroscopic techniques serve as a powerful tool for acquiring the molecular structure of electrode surfaces and probing interfacial reaction mechanisms in real time. In this review, we briefly summarize the latest advances in the electric double layer model and the experimental methods employed at the electrode-solution interface. Particular emphasis is placed on in situ vibrational spectroscopic techniques that have unveiled new insights into the molecular structure of interfacial water across diverse electrode surfaces under ambient conditions. And then, it also provides an overview of recent progress on the subtle relationship between the structure of interfacial water and its dissociation activity, aiming to provide novel insights into the fields of electrochemistry, energy and catalysis.