In-situ plasmonic tracking oxygen evolution reveals multistage oxygen diffusion and accumulating inhibition

Abstract Understanding mass transfer processes concomitant with electrochemical conversion for gas evolution reactions at the electrode-electrolyte interface plays a key role in advancing renewable energy storage and conversion. However, due to complicated diffusion behavior of dynamic catalytic interfaces, it is still great challenge accurately portray during electrocatalysis process. Here, we track dissolved oxygen on Cu nanostructured plasmonic interface, which reveals multistage behaviors, including premature accumulation, spontaneous accelerated dissipation. This work uncovers an accumulating inhibition effect arising from interfacial oxygen. With these knowledges, develop programmable potential scan strategy eliminate products, alleviates concentration polarization, releases accessible actives sites promotes electrocatalytic performance. Our findings provide direct observation that governs kinetics gas-involved multiphases catalysis.