Operando GI-XAS in the investigation of the mechanisms of electrochemical reactions.

In a recent in-house experiment carried out at BM08, we we tested an electrochemical cell designed to ensure both suitable electrochemical performances and grazing incidence (GI) XAS geometries. The cell is based on letting a laminar flux of electrolytic solution to flow by gravity on bulk nickel electrodes. With this type of set up, we succeeded in collecting some spectra in real conditions for a material whose structural and morphological features are close to those required for future industrial applications, rather than being optimized for XAS experiments. For what concerns the next experiment, the goal is to evaluate the same working principle of the electrochemical cell but with key modifications aimed at increasing its versatility and effectiveness. Specifically, we have designed a new model of the cell featuring interchangeable electrodes, that could host any type of electrode, including industrial (commercial) ones.