1. Surface and Interface
In heterogeneous catalysis, surface and interface is important, serving as the active sites where adsorption and transformations occur.
By employing in-situ EC-SERS, we reveal surface reconstruction process occurred on core-shell catalysts during electrocatalytic process and tailor electrolyte-catalyst synergy to enhance electrocatalytic selectivity, driving sustainable electrocatalytic solution. From the electrolyte perspective, we investigate how cation and anion modulate the microenvironment of the electrochemical interface.
For characterizing surface in nanoscale, TERS is utilized to probe the electronic properties of different sites of unique catalysts and novel materials (2D material).
For in-situ characterization of the liquid-gas interface, we apply EC-TERS to in-situ probe the electrochemical reaction, photo-electrochemical reaction on model system and to probe the nano-heterogeneity of the electrochemical interface.
2. Battery
Efficient lithium-ion transport is critical for solid-state batteries. Therefore, we study the ion transport dynamics within polymer electrolytes. Additionally, the in-situ polymerization of polymer electrolytes is also traced by Raman spectroscopy.
3. Biological SERS
SERS detection methodology is developed for sensitive detection of molecules such as, proteins, DNA/RNA, drugs, and so on, with the aid of rationally designed/prepared SERS substrates.
For decoding structure of biological molecules from Raman spectrum, we develop algorithms for reconstructing molecular/biomolecular structures from SERS spectra, towards a clear spectrum-structure correlation.
