Future of interfacial electrochemistry: from structure-function relationships to better understanding of charge transfer reactions and (photo)electrocatalytic reactivity

Electrochemistry is a field of science that deals with chemical changes produced by electricity as in electrolytic cells or with the production of electricity by chemical action as in galvanic cells.Electrochemistry finds wide applications: in addition to industrial electrolytic processes, electroplating, and the manufacture and use of batteries and fuel cells, the principles of electrochemistry are used in corrosion protection, chemical synthesis, and in chemical analysis including electrochemical sensing.International community has recognized both fundamental and applied aspects of electrochemistry by awarding Nobel Prizes: in 1959 to J. Heyrovsky for polarography, in 1992 to R. A. Marcus for theory of electron transfer, and in 2019 to J. Goodenough, M. S. Whittingham, and A. Yoshino for development of lithium-ion batteries.In all above cases, as well as during the recent period of the advancement of electrochemical science and technology, the primary focus has been on the development and characterization of the solidliquid interfaces (sometimes formed with semi-liquid or semi-solid electrolytes) that has given rise to interfacial electrochemistry as a rapidly expanding discipline.The research in the field of electrochemistry is identified by progress in theory and modeling in support of experimental work.Further development of electrochemical devices (e.g., electrochromic displays, electroanalytical sensors, batteries, and fuel cells) or technologies (e.g., electrosynthesis, electroplating, water splitting for hydrogen economy, corrosion protection, production of chlorine, conversion of carbon dioxide, and nitrogen fixation) would require continuing progress in the understanding of charge transfer reactions, and structure-interfacial reactivity relationships, as well as in