Dr. Hangjuan Ren, working with other members of the eCO2EP project team in the CREATE labs in Singapore, has used proton transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-TOF-MS) for the real-time detection of the intermediates and products of electrochemical CO2 reduction. Using precise measurements of on onset potentials and the degree of 13C isotope discrimination, she was able to unravel some of the key steps in the complex reaction mechanism which produces C2 and C3 products. The work has been published in Nature Catalysis and is also discussed in a News and Views article (Mass Spec Live by Jack Baricuatro) and a Behind the Paper post.
by Joel Ager