https://phys.org/news/2018-10-laser-technique-door-efficient-fuels.html

Electrocatalysts have shown promise as a potential way to achieve this required efficiency 'step-change' in CO2 reduction, but the mechanisms by which they operate are often unknown making it hard for researchers to design new ones in a rational manner.

New research published in Nature Catalysis by researchers at the University's Department of Chemistry, in collaboration with Beijing Computational Science Research Center and STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, demonstrates a laser-based spectroscopy technique that can be used to study the electrochemical reduction of CO2 in-situ and provide much-needed insights into these complex chemical pathways.