Interfacial ion solvation is omnipresent across electro- and biochemistry. For example, for every single electrocatalytic reaction, ions either need to shed their solvation shell before adsorbing onto the catalyst surface or they need to gain a solvation shell when they are generated at the catalyst surface. This complex process occurs inside the electrochemical double layer that can change its molecular arrangement as a function of applied electrochemical bias. As result, so far, our understanding of interfacial solvation kinetics is very limited, despite its relevance in battery ion intercalation, the production of green H2 or the electrodeposition of metals and development of anti-corrosion coatings. In biochemistry, ions often need to transverse ion channels, motors and pumps across membrane interfaces or desolvate inside structurally complex and highly dynamic enzyme environments. Therefore, understanding this activated process in the inner-sphere of the electrochemical double layer is of broad importance for technology and fundamental science.
At the interface between solvent and surface, properties of one phase can influence the other. For example, a metal electrode might possess excess charge that has a heterogenous distribution on the surface and, thus, the entailing electric fields will lead to a heterogenous double layer structure. Understanding the energetic landscape of these valleys and mountains, and how they impact the interfacial solvation kinetics is the main goal of ORION. To that end, we develop local probes that are sensitive to the local solvation kinetics.
