Open AccessCoupled Optical and Electrochemical Probing of Silver Nanoparticle Destruction in a Reaction Layer
Author(s) -
Little Christopher A.,
BatchelorMcAuley Christopher,
Ngamchuea Kamonwad,
Lin Chuhong,
Young Neil P.,
Compton Richard G.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
chemistryopen
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 29
ISSN - 2191-1363
DOI - 10.1002/open.201800048
Subject(s) - nanoparticle , electrode , electrochemistry , silver nanoparticle , layer (electronics) , reactivity (psychology) , materials science , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , chemistry , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , engineering
The oxidation of silver nanoparticles is induced to occur near to, but not at, an electrode surface. This reaction at a distance from the electrode is studied through the use of dark‐field microscopy, allowing individual nanoparticles and their reaction with the electrode product to be visualized. The oxidation product diffuses away from the electrode and oxidizes the nanoparticles in a reaction layer, resulting in their destruction. The kinetics of the silver nanoparticle solution‐phase reaction is shown to control the length scale over which the nanoparticles react. In general, the new methodology offers a route by which nanoparticle reactivity can be studied close to an electrode surface.