Charged interfaces play a crucial role in catalytic reactions, particularly in radical mediated processes. In this work, we investigate two representative types of charged interfaces, namely solid liquid contact electrified interfaces and gas liquid microdroplet interfaces, and reveal their potential in electrostatic catalysis for regulating reaction rates and selectivity under mild conditions.
At solid liquid interfaces, we focus on contact-electro-catalysis induced by mechanical stimulation. Under ultrasonic excitation, dynamic contact and separation between solid materials and aqueous media generate strong interfacial electric fields that drive electron transfer processes. This enables the activation of water and oxygen for hydrogen peroxide synthesis under ambient conditions. In addition, the contact electrification between fluorinated polymers and water promotes oxygen activation to generate reactive radical species, which facilitate the selective partial oxidation of methane to formaldehyde and methanol with high activity and selectivity.
At gas liquid interfaces, charged microdroplets provide confined environments with high surface charge density and strong intrinsic electric fields. These features enable microdroplets to function as microreactors for electrochemical transformations. In CO2 reduction, the interfacial electric field significantly enhances reaction selectivity and efficiency, with droplet size and charge density playing key roles in determining reaction pathways. Furthermore, ultrasonic atomization allows catalyst free nitrogen fixation under ambient conditions, producing ammonia and nitrogen oxides and offering a low energy route for nitrogen conversion.
Overall, this work highlights the unique advantages of charged interfaces in electrostatic catalysis and provides new insights into energy driven chemical transformations with potential applications in energy, environment, and green chemistry.