Surface spectroscopy articles from across Nature Portfolio

Surface spectroscopy involves the use of surface-sensitive spectroscopic techniques to analyse samples. These techniques include X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy and sum frequency generation spectroscopy.

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News and Comment

  • News & Views |

    The physical properties of a liquid at an interface differ from bulk solution limits, but how this affects chemical reactivity is unclear. Now, ultrafast, surface-sensitive vibrational spectroscopy has revealed that the light-induced reaction of phenol with water is four orders of magnitude faster at the water surface than in bulk.

    • Robert A. Walker
    Nature Chemistry 13, 296-297

  • News & Views |

    Molecular vibrations can be highly effective promoters of gas-phase chemistry. Now, measurements show that excited vibrational states can survive on metal surfaces far longer than expected — reshaping our understanding of how vibrational excitation might also promote or modify heterogeneously catalysed chemistry on metals.

    • Arthur L. Utz
    Nature Chemistry 10, 577-578

  • News & Views |

    For electrocatalysts, the activity and stability is determined by the surface — often just a few atomic layers thick. Now atom probe tomography is used to examine the changing surface of an oxygen evolution catalyst at near-atomic-scale resolution, linking structure to activity and stability.

    • Alexis Grimaud
    Nature Catalysis 1, 242-243

  • Editorial |

    In situ studies are very important to advance our comprehension of catalytic reactions and are expected to be boosted by the development of more powerful analytical tools.

    Nature Catalysis 1, 165-166
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