Electrochemistry of conductive polymers 39. Contacts between conducting polymers and noble metal nanoparticles studied by current-sensing atomic force microscopy

Electrical properties of contacts formed between conducting polymers and noble metal nanoparticles have been examined using current-sensing atomic force microscopy (CS-AFM). Contacts formed between electrochemically prepared pi-conjugated polymer films such as polypyrrole (PPy), poly(3-methylthiophene) (P3MeT), as well as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and noble metal nanoparticles including platinum (Pt), gold (Au), and silver (Ag) have been examined. The Pt nanoparticles were electrochemically deposited on a pre-coated PPy film surface by reducing a platinum precursor (PtCl62-) at a constant potential. Both current and scanning electron microscopic images of the film showed the presence of Pt islands. The Au and Ag nanoparticles were dispersed on the P3MeT and PEDOT film surfaces simply by dipping the polymer films into colloid solutions containing Au or Ag particles for specified periods (5 to approximately 10 min). The deposition of Au or Ag particles resulted from either their physical adsorption or chemical bonding between particles and the polymer surface depending on the polymer. When compared with PPy, P3MeT and PEDOT showed a stronger binding to Au or Ag nanoparticles when dipped in their colloidal solutions for the same period. This indicates that Au and Ag particles are predominantly linked with the sulfur atoms via chemical bonding. Of the two, PEDOT was more conductive at the sites where the particles are connected to the polymer. It appears that PEDOT has better aligned sulfur atoms on the surface and is strongly bonded to Au and Ag nanoparticles due to their strong affinity to gold and silver. The current-voltage curves obtained at the metal islands demonstrate that the contacts between these metal islands and polymers are ohmic.     

Visualization of the Local Catalytic Activity of Electrodeposited Pt–Ag Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction by means of SECM

Pt–Ag nanoparticle co‐deposits with different Pt–Ag ratios were prepared on a glassy carbon (GC) surface by pulsed electrodeposition and investigated for their catalytic activity in electrocatalytic oxygen reduction by using cyclic voltammetry (CV), rotating disc electrode (RDE) and scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.0). The atomic composition of the Pt–Ag co‐deposits was studied by means of energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDAX). In combination with X‐ray diffraction (XRD), the presence of partly alloyed Pt and Ag on the GC surface was confirmed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images indicate that the prepared Pt–Ag catalyst particles are homogenously dispersed over the GC surface. Their size and morphology depend on their composition. The electrocatalytic activity of Pt–Ag deposits with high Pt content was the highest, exceeding even that of electrodeposited Pt as evaluated by quantitative RDE analysis. The redox competition mode of scanning electrochemical microscopy (RC‐SECM) was successfully used to visualize the local catalytic activity of the deposited Pt–Ag particles. Semi‐quantitative assessment of the SECM results confirmed the same order of activity of the different catalysts as the RDE investigations.     

Electrochemical metal deposition on top of an organic monolayer

Electrochemical deposition of metals (platinum or gold) only on top of an organothiolate, 1,4-benzenedimethanethiol (BDMT) or hexanedithiol (HDT), self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on a Au(111) substrate was achieved by electrochemical reduction of PtCl(4)(2-) or AuCl(4)(-) ion, which was preadsorbed on one free thiol end group of the dithiol SAM formed on a Au surface, in a metal-ion-free sulfuric acid solution at potentials more negative than the reduction potential of the metal ion. Angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AR-XPS) measurement after the reduction of preadsorbed PtCl(4)(2-) ion on BDMT/Au(111) electrode showed the presence of Pt not underneath but on top of the BDMT SAM. After a negative potential scan of the Pt/BDMT/Au(111) electrode to -1.30 V in 0.1 M KOH solution, a typical cyclic voltammogram of a clean Au(111) electrode was obtained, showing that the BDMT SAM with a Pt layer was reductively desorbed. These results proved that a Pt-BDMT SAM-Au substrate sandwich structure without a short circuit between the two metals was successfully constructed by this technique. Furthermore, a decanethiol (DT) monolayer was constructed on a Au layer, which was formed by the reduction of preadsorbed AuCl(4)(-) ion on HDT/Au(111) electrode. The formation of DT/Au/HDT/Au(111) structure was confirmed as two cathodic peaks corresponding to reductive desorption of DT from Au on top of the HDT/Au(111) at -0.97 V and that of Au/ HDT from Au(111) at -1.12 V were observed when potential was scanned negatively to -1.35 V.     

ITO导电玻璃表面直接电沉积Au的机理

用循环伏安和电位阶跃法研究Au在氧化铟锡(ITO)透明导电膜玻璃表面的电沉积过程的初期阶段. 发现在ITO表面Au的电沉积经历成核过程以及受[AuCl₄]^-扩散控制的晶核生长过程. 通过改变扫描速率分析循环伏安曲线的变化, 当扫描速率较快时, 发现Au在ITO表面的沉积过程经历[AuCl₄]^-→[AuCl₂]^-→Au两步进行; 当扫描速率较慢时, 受歧化反应作用影响而只表现为一步沉积[AuCl₄]^-→Au. 通过电位阶跃实验, 验证了Au的两步沉积过程, 并求得[AuCl₄]^-的扩散系数为1.3×10^-5 cm²·s^-1. 将成核曲线与理论曲线对照, 得出Au在ITO表面的沉积符合瞬时成核理论. 通过场发射扫描电镜(FE-SEM)对Au核形貌进行分析, 根据扫描电镜图可以得到阶跃时间和阶跃电位对电沉积Au的形貌的影响.     

Polymer films on electrodes: investigation of ion transport at poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) films by scanning electrochemical microscopy

Electropolymerization, morphology characterization, and ion transport of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) films doped with different counterions (chloride, ferrocyanide (FCN), and poly(p-styrenesulfonate) (PSS-)) on a platinum electrode were investigated using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) during both potential step (chronocoulometric) and cyclic voltammetric scans. An ultramicroelectrode (UME) tip was positioned close to the surface of a PEDOT-modified substrate electrode, and the responses of both electrodes to a substrate potential step or linear sweep were monitored simultaneously. Chloride or ferrocyanide (FCN) ejection during PEDOT reduction was shown to be a function of the reduction potential. The nature of the cation in the bulk solution was not found to be important in the kinetics of ion transport in PEDOT+/FCN- films. Direct evidence for the incorporation of cations of Ru(NH3)6(3+/2+) in a PEDOT film during its reduction was also obtained by SECM measurements. The adsorption of Ru(NH3)6(3+) in fully oxidized PEDOT+/PSS- films was observed and attributed to ion exchange between the Na+ co-ion of PSS- and Ru(NH3)6(3+) in the bulk solution.     

Switchable surface properties through the electrochemical or biocatalytic generation of Ag0 nanoclusters on monolayer-functionalized electrodes

The electroswitchable and the biocatalytic/electrochemical switchable interfacial properties of a Ag(+)-biphenyldithiol (BPDT) monolayer associated with a Au surface are described. Upon the application of a potential corresponding to -0.2 V the Ag(+)-BPDT is reduced to the Ag(0)-BPDT interface, and silver nanoclusters are generated on the interface. The application of a potential that corresponds to 0.2 V reoxidizes the monolayer to the Ag(+)-BPDT monolayer. The reversible electrochemical transformation of the Ag(+)-BPDT monolayer and of the Ag(0)-BPDT surface was followed by electrochemical means and surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy (SPR). The SPR experiments enabled us to follow the kinetics of nanoclustering of Ag(0) on the surface. The hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties of the surface are controlled by the electrochemically induced transformation of the interface between the Ag(+)-BPDT and Ag(0)-BPDT states. The Ag(0)-BPDT monolayer reveals enhanced hydrophilicity. The hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties of the interface were probed by contact angle measurements and force interactions with a hydrophobically-functionalized AFM tip. The Ag(0)-BPDT interface was also biocatalytically generated using alkaline phosphatase, AlkPh, and p-aminophenyl phosphate as substrate. The biocatalytically generated p-aminophenol reduces Ag(+) ions associated with the surface to Ag(0) nanoclusters. This enables the cyclic biocatalytic/electrochemical control of the surface properties of the modified electrode.     

Synthesis and electrochemical properties of composite films based on poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene with inclusions of silver particles

The electrochemical behavior of PEDOT/Ag composite films obtained by chemical deposition of ultrafine Ag particles into the poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) matrix was studied. The film morphology was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The changes in the mass of the films during the chemical deposition of silver into the polymer structure were evaluated microgravimetrically. The mass of the included metallic silver particles depends on the synthesis time and the initial concentration of silver ions in solution. The cyclic voltammograms (CVs) of PEDOT/Ag films in sodium nitrate solutions and sodium nitrate solutions with additions of chloride ions were studied. The cyclic voltammograms of PEDOT/Ag films in chloride-containing solutions showed the peaks of the oxidation of silver and reduction of the oxidation product, which were absent on the CVs of the starting PEDOT film.     

Electroless deposition of gold into poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene films and their characterization performed in chloride-containing solutions

Au-containing polymer films were obtained by electroless deposition of gold from diluted solutions of HAuCl₄ into preliminarily reduced poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) films. Structural peculiarities of such pristine and composite films were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy methods. It was established that the gold clusters forming under such deposition appear on the outer surface of polymer films and their pores. The clusters’ sizes ranged between 30 and 100 nm depending on the time of exposition of a PEDOT film in solutions of Au(III) ions and the concentration of these ions. It was also observed that in contrast to pristine PEDOT films, cyclic voltammograms (CVs) of composite films in the presence of chloride ions show additional redox peaks resulting from oxidation of gold with formation of an insoluble product and followed by the product reduction under reversal of the potential scan direction. As a result of parallel electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) and CV measurements, it was also established that the number of chloride ions per one transferring electron in the gold oxidation process is near to unity. To elucidate the oxidation degree of gold in the presence of chloride ions, a special procedure of changing the electrode potential was used. It consisted of clamping the high anodic potential in the region of gold oxidation (0.97 V, Ag/AgCl) and subsequent gradual decrease of the electrode potential with a constant scan rate. Under these conditions, it was possible to completely oxidize all the gold particles containing in a composite film and find out the maximum amount of electricity consumed for the product particles’ reduction. A comparison between such data and the results obtained in EQCM determinations of the gold content in the same film led to the conclusion that the oxidation state of gold in the complexes formed is Au(III). The effects of chloride ion concentration and scan rate of the electrode potential on current responses of PEDOT–Au films were investigated. Some primary conclusions on the kinetics of the studied processes are made.     

Thermodynamic guidelines for the design of bimetallic catalysts for oxygen electroreduction and rapid screening by scanning electrochemical microscopy. M-co (M: Pd, Ag, Au)

We propose guidelines for the design of improved bimetallic (and related) electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in acidic media. This guide is based on simple thermodynamic principles assuming a simple mechanism where one metal breaks the oxygen-oxygen bond of molecular O(2) and the other metal acts to reduce the resulting adsorbed atomic oxygen. Analysis of the Gibbs free energies of these two reactions guides the selection of combinations of metals that can produce alloy surfaces with enhanced activity for the ORR when compared to the constituent metals. Selected systems have been tested by fabricating arrays of metallic catalysts consisting of various binary and ternary combinations of Pd, Au, Ag, and Co deposited on glassy carbon (GC) substrates. The electrocatalytic activity of these materials for the ORR in acidic medium was examined using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) in a new rapid-imaging mode. This was used to rapidly screen arrays covering a wide range of catalyst compositions for their activity for the ORR in 0.5 M H(2)SO(4). Using the SECM technique, we have identified combinations of metals with enhanced electrocatalytic activities when compared with the constituent, pure metals. Addition of Co to Pd, Au, and Ag clearly decreases the ORR overpotential, in agreement with the proposed model. Catalyst spots that exhibited enhanced electrocatalytic activity in the SECM screening technique were then examined using classical rotating disk electrode (RDE) experiments. The activity of carbon black supported catalyst mixtures on a GC RDE and the electrocatalytic activity determined using the SECM screening technique showed excellent agreement. C/Pd-Co electrodes (10-30% Co) exhibited remarkable activity for ORR catalysis, close to that of carbon-supported Pt.     

Photoelectrochemical kinetics of eosin y-sensitized zinc oxide films investigated by scanning electrochemical microscopy

Eosin Y is used as a sensitizer for nanoporous zinc oxide films for prospective applications in photoelectrochemical solar cells. The kinetics of the reduction of the intermittently formed photo-oxidized dye molecules by iodide ions in the electrolyte phase was investigated by using the feedback mode of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). The bulk solution phase contained triiodide as electron transfer mediator, from which the ultramicroelectrode-generated iodide ions acted as electron donors for photo-oxidized Eosin Y molecules (D(+) (ads)) at the zinc oxide sample. Effective rate constants for the dye regeneration could be extracted from the SECM approach curves. The effective rate constants at different triiodide concentrations could be related to the rate constant for the reaction of the dissolved donor with photo-oxidized Eosin Y bound to ZnO, as well as to the overall rate of the photosensitization process. For the reaction D(+) (ads) + 1.5 I(-)-->D(ads) + 0.5 I(3) (-) a rate constant of k(ox) = (1.4+/-0.8)x10(8) cm(9/2) mol(-3/2) s(-1) was determined.     

Oxidation of highly unstable <4 nm diameter gold nanoparticles 850 mV negative of the bulk oxidation potential

Here we describe the oxidation of <4 nm diameter Au nanoparticles (NPs) attached to indium tin oxide-coated glass electrodes in Br(-) and Cl(-) solution. Borohydride reduction of AuCl(4)(-) in the presence of hexanethiol or trisodium citrate (15 min) led to Au NPs <4 nm in diameter. After electrochemical and ozone removal of the hexanthiolate ligands from the thiol-coated Au NPs, Au oxidation peaks appeared in the range 0-400 mV vs Ag/AgCl (1 M KCl), which is 850-450 mV negative of the bulk Au oxidation peak near 850 mV. The oxidation potential of citrate-coated Au NPs is in the 300-500 mV range and those of 4 and 12 nm diameter Au NPs in the 660-780 mV range. The large negative shift in potential agrees with theory for NPs in the 1-2 nm diameter range. The oxidation potential of Au in Cl(-) solution is positive of that in Br(-) solution, but the difference decreases dramatically as the NP size decreases, showing less dependence on the halide for smaller NPs.     

Visualization and characterization of electroactive defects in the native oxide film on aluminium

Spatial!y localized electrochemical activity at Al/Al2O3 electrodes has been investigated using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) in order to establish the relationship between localized corrosion of Al (and Al alloys) with the defect structure of the native Al2O3 film. Local electron transfer at microscopic defects (2 to 50 microm radius) was visualized in acetonitrile solutions using the nitrobenzene/nitrobenzene radical anion (Eo approximately -1.6 V vs. Ag/Ag+) and tetracyanoquinodimethane/tetracyanoquinodimethane radical anion couples (Eo approximately -0.3 V) as redox mediators for imaging. SECM investigations revealed no significant differences in electrochemical activity at Al/AI203 electrodes in the two mediator solutions, indicating that electrical conduction at the defect sites is weakly dependent on interfacial potential and the electric field across the Al2O3 film. The density of electroactive defects observed by SECM varied by 2 to 3 orders of magnitude between electrodes prepared from the same source of Al (either 99.450% and 99.9995%) suggesting that electrical conduction in the native oxide is very sensitive to surface preparation. Defect densities as low as approximately 3 sites cm(-2) were readily measured by SECM.     

Electrochemical self-assembly of melanin films on gold

An electrochemical method for self-assembling melanin films on the Au(111) surface from melanin aggregates in alkaline media is reported. Electrochemical data combined with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), atomic force microscopy, and Auger electron spectoscopy show that the amount and structure of the deposited melanin film depend on the potential (E) applied to the electrochemical interface and deposition time. Film formation takes place at a noticeable rate at E = -1.0 V (vs SCE). High-resolution STM images at the early stages of growth show small particles, 5-8 nm in size and 0.3-0.4 nm in height, forming ordered arrays that follow closely the Au(111) topography. The size of the melanin particles increases as the film thickness increases, reaching 150 nm for deposits grown for 16 h. The deposited films are electrochemically active, showing well-defined redox couples preceding the hydrogen evolution reaction.     

Electrochemical characterization of self-assembled thiol-porphyrin monolayers on gold electrodes by SECM.

Herein, the scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) approach is applied to study the formation of thiol-porphyrin self-assembled monolayer (SAMs). Using cyclic voltammetry (CV), the formation process is characterized adopting different probe molecules. The observed phenomena indicate that the formation process is affected by solution properties and the molecular structure of the probe molecules. In K(3)Fe(CN)(6) , the SAMs show a strong electron-transfer (ET) blocking effect on a pure porphyrin-modified electrode. However, addition of metal ions to the porphyrin molecules leads to ET. A consistent tendency is observed throughout the modification process using CV and SECM methods. Furthermore, k(eff) values, the apparent heterogeneous rate constants, obtained for different modification periods affirm the validity of these results. SECM images are used to collect surface information in the course of the modification process when the substrate potential is 0.5 V versus Ag/AgCl. The effect of the substrate potential indicates that the oxidation of the porphyrin molecules is supported by more positive potentials because of the similar bimolecular reaction of the porphyrin ring with positive charge and the probe molecules with negative charge.     

Scanning electrochemical microscopy: Visualization of local electrocatalytic activity of transition metals hexacyanoferrates

The redox competition mode of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) was used to visualize differences in local electrocatalytic activity of Fe and Ni hexacyanoferrates (HCFs) in hydrogen peroxide reduction. The uniform round-shaped spots of electrocatalysts for the SECM measurements were electrochemically deposited using a scanning droplet cell. A negligible activity of NiHCF towards H₂O₂ reduction compared to Prussian Blue (PB) was observed. The dependence of local Prussian Blue activity on the applied potential was investigated. The proposed strategy explores the potential application of SECM as a rapid screening tool for HCF film activity within a single experiment.     

Gas-phase experiments on Au(III) photochemistry

Irradiation of AuCl(4)(-) and AuCl(2)(OH)(2)(-) in the gas-phase using ultraviolet light (220-415 nm) leads to their dissociation. Observed fragment ions for AuCl(4)(-) are AuCl(3)(-) and AuCl(2)(-) and for AuCl(2)(OH)(2)(-) are AuCl(2)(-) and AuClOH(-). All fragment channels correspond to photoreduction of the gold atom to either Au(II) or Au(I) depending on the number of neutral ligands lost. Fragment branching ratios of AuCl(4)(-) are observed to be highly energy dependent and can be explained by comparison of the experimental data to calculated threshold energies obtained using density functional theory. The main observed spectral features are attributed to ligand-to-metal charge transfer transitions. These results are discussed in the context of the molecular-level mechanisms of Au(III) photochemistry.     

Fabrication of Ag/Au bimetallic nanoparticles by UPD-redox replacement: Application in the electrochemical reduction of benzyl chloride

The bimetallic Ag/Au nanoparticles were prepared by underpotential deposition-redox replacement technique on the basis of Au nanoparticles modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode. The as-prepared Ag/Au nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The Ag/Au bimetallic nanoparticles modified GC electrode with low-Ag loading exhibits much better catalytic activity for the reduction of benzyl chloride than Ag nanoparticles modified GC electrode. The result is attributed to the synergic effect between Ag and Au in the reduction process. The chronoamperometry test shows that the Ag/Au nanoparticles possess long-term performance in the electrolysis.     

Scanning electrochemical microscopy imaging of rhodochrosite dissolution using gold amalgam microelectrodes

Gold/mercury amalgam (Au/Hg) microelectrodes with a diameter of 25 microm were developed for the detection of environmentally relevant analytes such as manganese and iron by scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), and applied to investigate the controlled dissolution of manganese carbonate (MnCO(3); rhodochrosite) in acidic conditions. Characterization of the amalgam electrode geometry via approach curves recorded during SECM experiments revealed Au/Hg microelectrodes with sphere cap geometry. Quantitative determination of Mn(2+) has been achieved by calibration of the Au/Hg microelectrode in bulk solution experiments. Subsequent SECM imaging experiments confirm the applicability of amalgam microelectrodes for imaging of Mn(2+) production during dissolution of MnCO(3) at pH 3.9. This study confirms feasibility and provides the fundamental basis of SECM imaging with amalgam microelectrodes to address biogeochemically relevant questions.     

Preparation of Tip‐Protected Poly(oxyphenylene) Coated Carbon‐Fiber Ultramicroelectrodes

A high‐yield, reliable, and reproducible method has been successfully developed to fabricate poly(oxyphenylene)‐coated carbon fiber ultramicroelectrodes (POCF UMEs) with tip radii r<2 μm. During the insulation process, the tip of the electrochemically etched electrode is protected by inserting it into an inert polymer while the remainder of the electrode is insulated by electrochemical deposition of a 1–3 μm thick poly(oxyphenylene) film. Optimum conditions for poly(oxyphenylene) deposition are developed and the resulting carbon fiber UMEs showed good cyclic voltammetric behavior even after storage for more than one year. These UMEs were tested for use as amperometric scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) tips and successfully imaged Au/Kel‐F and Al/SiC_p metal matrix composites.     

Electrochemical and surfaced-enhanced Raman spectroscopic investigation of CO and SCN- adsorbed on Au(core)-Pt(shell) nanoparticles supported on GC electrodes

Core-shell Au-Pt nanoparticles were synthesized by using a seed growth method and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and UV-vis spectroscopy. Au(core)-Pt(shell)/GC electrodes were prepared by drop-coating the nanoparticles on clean glassy carbon (GC) surfaces, and their electrochemical behavior in 0.5 M H2SO4 revealed that coating of the Au core by the Pt shell is complete. The electrooxidation of carbon monoxide and methanol on the Au(core)-Pt(shell)/GC was also examined, and the results are similar to those obtained on a bulk Pt electrode. High quality surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of both adsorbed CO and thiocyanate were observed on the Au(core)-Pt(shell)/GC electrodes. The potential-dependent SERS features resemble those obtained on electrochemically roughened bulk Pt or Pt thin films deposited on roughened Au electrodes. For thiocyanate, the C-N stretching frequency increases with the applied potential, yielding two distinctly different dnu(CN)/dE. From -0.8 to -0.2 V, the dnu(CN)/dE is ca. 50 cm(-1)/V, whereas it is 90 cm(-1)/V above 0 V. The bandwidth along with the band intensity increases sharply above 0 V. At the low-frequency region, Pt-NCS stretching mode at 350 cm(-1) was observed at the potentials from -0.8 to 0 V, whereas the Pt-SCN mode at 280 cm(-1) was largely absent until around 0 V and became dominant at more positive potentials. These potential-dependent spectral transitions were attributed to the adsorption orientation switch from N-bound dominant at the negative potential region to S-bound at more positive potentials. The origin of the SERS activity of the particles is briefly discussed. The study demonstrates a new method of obtaining high quality SERS on Pt-group transition metals, with the possibility of tuning SERS activity by varying the core size and the shell thickness.