Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy of Individual Catalytic Nanoparticles |
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Authors: | Tong Sun Yun Yu Brian J. Zacher Prof. Michael V. Mirkin |
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Affiliation: | Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Queens College of the City University and New York, Flushing, NY 11367 (USA) |
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Abstract: | 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. |
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Keywords: | electrocatalysis nanoelectrochemistry nanoelectrodes nanoparticles scanning electrochemical microscopy |
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