Tuning Electrified Solid-liquid Interfaces

In the face of climate change, the transition to a net-zero economy involving renewable energy sources and energy storage solutions is an urgent endeavour where electrochemical energy conversion and storage techniques play a key role. Similarly to electrochemical sensing or electrodeposition, the performance of such techniques depends to a large degree on the physical and chemical interactions at the interface between the solid electrode and liquid electrolyte. At such interfaces, reaction partners adsorb, electric charges are transferred and intermediates or final products desorb. Hence, insight into interfacial interactions is crucial for effective tuning of electrochemical reactions. Although the electrode’s composition, structure and physical properties are known to be highly important, in a holistic approach the electrolyte is deemed a crucial part of the system, and electrolyte engineering is attracting an increasing amount of research efforts. While the electric double layer model provides a general framework for the interfacial arrangement of ions, a large variety of effects can occur, such as ion correlation and aggregation of molecules or particulates.

This Research Topic aims to provide a platform where new ideas on analysis and tuning of solid-liquid interfaces can be exchanged as well as recent progress reported. Owing to the increasing availability of a range of in situ / operando microscopy and spectroscopy techniques, interfacial interactions can be analysed under appropriate environmental conditions. Furthermore, computational approaches such as molecular modelling allow for description at the atomic or molecular level, thus accounting for the specific structure at the solid-liquid interface. Moreover, a host of fabrication and synthesis techniques has been demonstrated, e.g. for preparation of nanoporous or nanostructured electrode materials. Overall, the combined measurement, modelling, fabrication and synthesis capabilities pave the way for rational tuning of solid-electrolyte interfaces and development of new concepts for enhanced interactions at electrified interfaces.

In this Research Topic we welcome original research articles, review or perspective articles concerning the following areas:

• Charges at solid-liquid interfaces and related physical-chemical interactions
• Electrochemical impedance
• Electrochemical sensing
• Electrodeposition and electrostatic self-assembly
• Electroreduction or -oxidation for energy conversion
• Electrowetting
• Hydration and ion adsorption in aqueous electrolytes
• Lubricated friction in the presence of ions or surface charges
• Modelling and simulation of fundamental interactions at electrified interfaces
• Nanofabrication approaches for patterning electrode or catalyst surfaces
• Spatially resolved analysis of electrochemical or force interactions by microscopy
• Spectroscopic analysis of interfacial interactions
• Synthesis of porous nanostructures for increased surface area or improved adsorption

Keywords: Electrochemical sensing, electrodeposition, electrocatalysis, electric double layer, in situ / operando microscopy, lubrication, solid-liquid interface

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.