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Electrochemical Behavior of Single CuO Nanoparticles: Implications for the Assessment of their Environmental Fate
Author(s) -
Zampardi Giorgia,
Thöming Jorg,
Naatz Hendrik,
Amin Hatem M. A.,
Pokhrel Suman,
Mädler Lutz,
Compton Richard G.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201801765
Subject(s) - nanoparticle , electrochemistry , aqueous solution , particle (ecology) , cyclic voltammetry , inorganic chemistry , materials science , oxide , chloride , copper , ion , electrode , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , chemistry , metallurgy , organic chemistry , oceanography , geology , engineering
Abstract The electrochemical behavior of copper oxide nanoparticles is investigated at both the single particle and at the ensemble level in neutral aqueous solutions through the electrode‐particle collision method and cyclic voltammetry, respectively. The influence of Cl − and NO 3 − anions on the electrochemical processes occurring at the nanoparticles is further evaluated. The electroactivity of CuO nanoparticles is found to differ between the two types of experiments. At the single‐particle scale, the reduction of the CuO nanoparticles proceeds to a higher extent in the presence of chloride ion than of nitrate ion containing solutions. However, at the multiparticle scale the CuO reduction proceeds to the same extent regardless of the type of anions present in solution. The implications for assessing realistically the environmental fate and therefore the toxicity of metal‐based nanoparticles in general, and copper‐based nanoparticles in particular, are discussed.