Real-Time Quantitative Analysis of Electrode Surfaces in Synthetic Organic Electrochemistry via Optical Coherence Tomography

The occurrence of electrode corrosion or fouling in an electrolysis process poses a significant challenge to the large-scale application of electrochemical technology. Thus, the study of corrosion and fouling events is a significant task in electrochemical process development. Herein, we demonstrate that optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a valuable tool for the detection and quantification of both fouling and corrosion of electrodes during synthetic organic electrochemistry procedures. OCT, based on near-infrared light, can penetrate several materials, without disturbing the process, providing quantitative 3D data on the extent of fouling and corrosion. The rapid data acquisition features of this technique (<1 min) enable early operando detection of corrosion and fouling, enabling adjustment of the electrolysis parameters to maximize reaction efficiency.