Mechanistic insights into electrocatalytic reactions provided by SERS

In situ vibrational spectroscopy can provide molecular-level mechanistic insights missing from purely electrochemical measurements. Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a particularly promising method and is used in aqueous and nonaqueous studies of a variety of electrode reactions. Enhancement of the weak Raman signal is achieved by structuring the electrode surface or by use of SERS probes. This review article highlights the recent use of SERS to study several important electrode reactions: oxygen reduction and evolution, carbon monoxide oxidation and carbon dioxide reduction and the electrocatalytic oxidation of small organic molecules such as formic acid.