Exploring interfacial electrocatalytic reactions by shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

The investigation of interfacial processes at the molecular level is an essential research area in electrocatalysis. To more clearly understand the electrocatalytic interfacial reaction mechanism, an in situ and highly sensitive surface investigation technique is required. Shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS) is a highly sensitive surface analysis approach that can gather spectral evidence of interfacial intermediates, which commonly have a short lifetime and trace amount that are difficult to be detected. In this review, we first cover the basics of the SHINERS and SHINERS-satellite strategies, including their principle, fabrication method, and features. We then summarized the applications of SHINERS and SHINERS-satellite strategies for the studies of interfacial electrocatalytic process in fuel cells, water electrolysis, and CO oxidation and reduction. Last but not least are the summary and outlook, in which the potential research prospects of SHINERS and SHINERS-satellite are proposed.