Faster chemistry at surfaces

• Published in: Nature chemistry Vol. 13; no. 4; pp. 296 - 297
• Main Author: Walker, Robert A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.04.2021; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 639/638/440/950; 639/638/542/971; Analytical Chemistry; Aqueous solutions; Biochemistry; Chemical reactions; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chemistry/Food Science; Enzymes; Inorganic Chemistry; Interfaces; Light effects; News & Views; news-and-views; Organic Chemistry; Phenols; Photochemistry; Physical Chemistry; Physical properties; Solvents; Spectroscopy

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 a...