Recent Publications Feed (ADMIN)

There is considerable interest in understanding the interaction and activity of single entities, such as (electro)catalytic nanoparticles (NPs), with (electrode) surfaces. Through the use of a high bandwidth, high signal/noise measurement system, NP impacts on an electrode surface are detected and analyzed in unprecedented detail, revealing considerable new mechanistic information on the process. Taking the electrocatalytic oxidation of H2O2 at ruthenium oxide (RuOx) NPs as an example, the rise time of current-time transients for NP impacts is consistent with a hydrodynamic trapping model for the arrival of a NP with a distance-dependent NP diffusion-coefficient. NP release from the electrode appears to be aided by propulsion from the electrocatalytic reaction at the NP. High frequency NP impacts, orders of magnitude larger than can be accounted for by a single pass diffusive flux of NPs, are observed that indicate the repetitive trapping and release of an individual NP that has not previously recognized. The experiments and models described could readily be applied to other systems and serve as a powerful platform for detailed analysis of NP impacts.

Nanopipettes are playing an increasingly prominent role in nanoscience, for sizing, sequencing, delivery, detection, and mapping interfacial properties. Herein, the question of how to best resolve topography and surface charge effects when using a nanopipette as a probe for mapping in scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) is addressed. It is shown that, when a bias modulated (BM) SICM scheme is used, it is possible to map the topography faithfully, while also allowing surface charge to be estimated. This is achieved by applying zero net bias between the electrode in the SICM tip and the one in bulk solution for topographical mapping, with just a small harmonic perturbation of the potential to create an AC current for tip positioning. Then, a net bias is applied, whereupon the ion conductance current becomes sensitive to surface charge. Practically this is optimally implemented in a hopping-cyclic voltammetry mode where the probe is approached at zero net bias at a series of pixels across the surface to reach a defined separation, and then a triangular potential waveform is applied and the current response is recorded. Underpinned with theoretical analysis, including finite element modeling of the DC and AC components of the ionic current flowing through the nanopipette tip, the powerful capabilities of this approach are demonstrated with the probing of interfacial acid–base equilibria and high resolution imaging of surface charge heterogeneities, simultaneously with topography, on modified substrates.

The mechanism and kinetics of the electrochemical nucleation and growth of Pd nanoparticles (NPs) on carbon electrodes have been investigated using a microscale meniscus cell on both highly oriented pyrolytic graphite and a carbon coated transmission electron microscopy (TEM) grid. Using a microscale meniscus cell, it is possible to monitor the initial stage of electrodeposition electrochemically, while the ability to measure directly on a TEM grid allows subsequent high resolution microscopy characterization which provides detailed nanoscopic and kinetic information. TEM analysis clearly shows that Pd is electrodeposited in the form of NPs (approximately 1 − 2 nm diameter) that aggregate into extensive nanocrystal-type structures comprised of NPs. This gives rise to a high NP density. This mechanism is shown to be consistent with double potential step chronoamperometry measurements on HOPG, where a forward step generates electrodeposited Pd and the reverse step oxidizes the surface of the electrodeposited Pd to Pd oxide. The charge passed in these transients can be used to estimate the amounts of NPs electrodeposited and their size. Good agreement is found between the electrochemically determined parameters and the microscopy measurements. A model for electrodeposition based on the nucleation of NPs that aggregate to form stable structures is proposed that is used to analyze data and extract kinetics. This simple model reveals considerable information on the NP nucleation rate, the importance of aggregation in the deposition process and quantitative values for the aggregation rate.