Para-aminothiophenol (PATP) is not only a widely-used probe molecule in the field of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), but also an important model molecule for interfacial reactions, exhibiting distinct photo- and electro-oxidation pathways, so that PATP is selectively activated under different external fields. The evolution of products and intermediates during electrochemical oxidative coupling remains unknown. In this study, we have investigated the dynamic electrochemical oxidation process of PATP on the Au(111) surface using cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical (EC)-SERS, and in situ electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (EC-STM). The results showed that PATP forms an unsaturated adsorption coverage on Au(111) in an acidic solution. When the potential was positively shifted to the oxidation potential range, the cation radical generated by PATP oxidation alternated with PATP molecules in arrangement. Once the coupling reaction occurred, the adsorption structure of alternating arrangement was transformed into the stripe structure as observed in the STM images. Finally, the coverage on the Au(111) surface decreased and a $\sqrt{3}\times 4\sqrt{6}$. structure was formed. Accordingly, the oxidation reaction product 4′-mercapto-N-phenylquinone diimine (NPQD) would adopt the arrangement of mixed adsorption sites of bridge and hollow sites on Au(111). By determining the adsorption structure evolution of PATP during the electrooxidation process on the gold surface, the mechanism of interfacial electrochemical oxidation coupling reaction is revealed from a spatial perspective. This lays the foundation for further modulation and design of the interfacial reaction of aromatic amine molecules.

Mullite-structured oxides exhibit excellent oxygen reduction reaction activity, possess a low thermal expansion coefficient due to their unique crystal structure, and can eliminate the need for a barrier layer and simplify the preparation process as they contain no alkaline earth elements. Thus, they hold great promise as novel cathode materials for solid oxide fuel cells. In this work, a mullite-spinel-structured SmMn₂O₅-NiMn₂O₄ (SMO-NMO) composite cathode was one-step synthesized via a solid-liquid composite route, and its in-situ self-assembly enabled good compatibility with the electrolyte without any barrier layer. Characterization results showed that the SMO:NMO = 5:5 (SN55)composite cathode overcame the bottlenecks of single-phase materials-namely, the low conductivity of pure SMO (only 0.035 S·cm^-1 at 800 °C) and the insufficient oxygen reduction reaction activity of pure NMO-through a synergistic effect between the two phases. At 800 °C, the single cell delivered a peak power density of 1069.82 mW·cm^-2, which was 3.24-fold and 1.20-fold higher than that of pure SMO (329.92 mW·cm^-2) and NMO (890.20 mW·cm^-2), respectively. Under galvanostatic operation at 750 °C (current density corresponding to 540 mA·cm^-2), the SN55-based cell runs for ~150 h with only 1.6% voltage loss, corresponding to a degradation rate of 5.62%/kh, and no defects appeared at the cathode-electrolyte interface. This study provided a new route for designing barrier-layer-free cathodes for solid oxide fuel cells.

Green hydrogen production via alkaline seawater electrolysis offers an environmentally sustainable and potentially cost-effective route to address both energy and climate challenges. Achieving long-term anode stability under complex ionic environments and industrial current densities remains a central bottleneck. Specifically, Ni-based anodes exhibit intense surface reconstruction during the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), necessitating dynamic anti-corrosion strategies. This mini review systematically summarizes reconstruction engineering approaches to develop anti-corrosion Ni-based anodes of alkaline seawater electrolysis across increasingly complex ionic environments from simulated seawater to real seawater: (i) Cl^- dominated; (ii) Cl^- with co-existing oxyanions, and (iii) Cl^- with co-existing Br^-. Notably, the progress achieved by our group in dynamic reconstruction engineering is highlighted, as well as reported advances on reconstruction-induced chemical adsorption/fixation strategies to provide a broader mechanistic understanding. In a Cl^- dominated corrosive environment, the introduction of Ag component enables in situ reconstruction into AgCl under the operating potential. This process immobilizes Cl^- via AgCl formation and simultaneously suppresses interfacial Cl^- enrichment and penetration through a co-ion exclusion effect. For Cl^- with co-existing oxyanions, the oxyhydroxide species generated by Ni-based surface reconstruction preferentially adsorb oxygen-containing anions, thereby forming a stable anionic shielding layer. This layer lowers the probability of Cl^- approach and adsorption, leading to effective mitigation of Cl^--induced corrosion. Additionally, the mechanisms underlying bromide-induced anodic corrosion in Cl^- with co-existing Br^- are summarized, together with relevant reconstruction inhibition strategies. Finally, transferable anode design principles are proposed to push seawater electrolysis from materials demonstrations to device-level reliable operation.