Probing complex eletrocatalytic reactions using electrochemical infrared spectroscopy

Electrochemical in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (EC-FTIRS) is one of the most powerful and widely used techniques in studying electrode-electrolyte interfaces and electrode processes thereon. Despite its great developments and wide applications, challenges that may lead to the misinterpretation of the reaction mechanisms are usually overlooked. In this minireview, after a brief overview of the methodology of EC-FTIRS, we will consider the oxidation of small organic molecule, especially formic acid oxidation to introduce the strategies on (i) how to estimate kinetic parameters of specific reaction pathways of complex reactions on the basis of infrared spectroscopic data combined with other techniques and (ii) how to avoid the pitfalls of data interpretation. Our perspective for future development of EC-FTIRS is also provided.