Electrochemistry of the Liquid-Liquid Interface

Conventional electron transfer processes occur at metal (or semiconductor)/electrolyte interfaces, but it is also possible to transfer electrons – and ions – across the “interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions” (ITIES), i.e. the oil/water interface, as long as both solutions contain appropriate electrolytes. The thermodynamics and, more recently, kinetics of charge transfer at the ITIES have been quite well studied: the current area of interest is the “decoration” of these interfaces with particles, such as metal nanoparticles or carbon nanomaterials, and the study of catalytic processes induced by these adsorbed particles. Another long-standing interest is the development of spectroscopic techniques to help to understand the dynamics of charge transfer at the liquid-liquid interface.