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Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy of Individual Catalytic Nanoparticles
Author(s) -
Sun Tong,
Yu Yun,
Zacher Brian J.,
Mirkin Michael V.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201408408
Subject(s) - scanning electrochemical microscopy , electrochemistry , nanoparticle , materials science , scanning electron microscope , catalysis , nanotechnology , electrocatalyst , inert , chemical engineering , electron transfer , electrode , chemistry , photochemistry , organic chemistry , composite material , engineering
Electrochemistry at individual metal nanoparticles (NPs) can provide new insights into their electrocatalytic behavior. Herein, the electrochemical activity of single AuNPs attached to the catalytically inert carbon surface is mapped by using extremely small (≥3 nm radius) polished nanoelectrodes as tips in the scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM). The use of such small probes resulted in the spatial resolution significantly higher than in previously reported electrochemical images. The currents produced by either rapid electron transfer or the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction at a single 10 or 20 nm NP were measured and quantitatively analyzed. The developed methodology should be useful for studying the effects of nanoparticle size, geometry, and surface attachment on electrocatalytic activity in real‐world application environment.