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Jantz DT, Balla RJ, Huang SH, Kurapati N, Amemiya S, Leonard KC. Simultaneous Intelligent Imaging of Nanoscale Reactivity and Topography by Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy. Anal Chem 2021; 93:8906-8914. [PMID: 34129324 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c01248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) enables reactivity and topography imaging of single nanostructures in the electrolyte solution. The in situ reactivity and topography, however, are convoluted in the real-time image, thus requiring another imaging method for subsequent deconvolution. Herein, we develop an intelligent mode of nanoscale SECM to simultaneously obtain separate reactivity and topography images of non-flat substrates with reactive and inert regions. Specifically, an ∼0.5 μm-diameter Pt tip approaches a substrate with an ∼0.15 μm-height active Au band adjacent to an ∼0.4 μm-wide slope of the inactive glass surface followed by a flat inactive glass region. The amperometric tip current versus tip-substrate distance is measured to observe feedback effects including redox-mediated electron tunneling from the substrate. The intelligent SECM software automatically terminates the tip approach depending on the local reactivity and topography of the substrate under the tip. The resultant short tip-substrate distances allow for non-contact and high-resolution imaging in contrast to other imaging modes based on approach curves. The numerical post-analysis of each approach curve locates the substrate under the tip for quantitative topography imaging and determines the tip current at a constant distance for topography-independent reactivity imaging. The nanoscale grooves are revealed by intelligent topography SECM imaging as compared to scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy without reactivity information and as unnoticed by constant-height SECM imaging owing to the convolution of topography with reactivity. Additionally, intelligent reactivity imaging traces abrupt changes in the constant-distance tip current across the Au/glass boundary, which prevents constant-current SECM imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan T Jantz
- Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Kansas, 1501 Wakarusa Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
| | - Ryan J Balla
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, 219 Parkman Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Siao-Han Huang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, 219 Parkman Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Niraja Kurapati
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, 219 Parkman Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Shigeru Amemiya
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, 219 Parkman Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Kevin C Leonard
- Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Kansas, 1501 Wakarusa Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
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YAMADA H, YAMANAKA N, YASUNAGA K. Simultaneous Observation of Faradaic and Tunneling Current at a Flat Surface Using Tunneling-Current-Based Constant-Distance Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy with a Platinum Nanoelectrode. ELECTROCHEMISTRY 2021. [DOI: 10.5796/electrochemistry.21-00013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi YAMADA
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Defense Academy
| | | | - Kenji YASUNAGA
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Defense Academy
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Balla RJ, Jantz DT, Kurapati N, Chen R, Leonard KC, Amemiya S. Nanoscale Intelligent Imaging Based on Real-Time Analysis of Approach Curve by Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy. Anal Chem 2019; 91:10227-10235. [PMID: 31310104 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b02361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) enables high-resolution imaging by examining the amperometric response of an ultramicroelectrode tip near a substrate. Spatial resolution, however, is compromised for nonflat substrates, where distances from a tip far exceed the tip size to avoid artifacts caused by the tip-substrate contact. Herein, we propose a new imaging mode of SECM based on real-time analysis of the approach curve to actively control nanoscale tip-substrate distances without contact. The power of this software-based method is demonstrated by imaging an insulating substrate with step edges using standard instrumentation without combination of another method for distance measurement, e.g., atomic force microscopy. An ∼500 nm diameter Pt tip approaches down to ∼50 nm from upper and lower terraces of a 500 nm height step edge, which are located by real-time theoretical fitting of an experimental approach curve to ensure the lack of electrochemical reactivity. The tip approach to the step edge can be terminated at <20 nm prior to the tip-substrate contact as soon as the theory deviates from the tip current, which is analyzed numerically afterward to locate the inert edge. The advantageous local adjustment of tip height and tip current at the final point of tip approach distinguishes the proposed imaging mode from other modes based on standard instrumentation. In addition, the glass sheath of the Pt tip is thinned to ∼150 nm to rarely contact the step edge, which is unavoidable and instantaneously detected as an abrupt change in the slope of approach curve to prevent damage of the fragile nanotip.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J Balla
- Department of Chemistry , University of Pittsburgh , 219 Parkman Avenue , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15260 , United States
| | - Dylan T Jantz
- Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering , University of Kansas , 1501 Wakarusa Drive , Lawrence , Kansas 66047 , United States
| | - Niraja Kurapati
- Department of Chemistry , University of Pittsburgh , 219 Parkman Avenue , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15260 , United States
| | - Ran Chen
- Department of Chemistry , University of Pittsburgh , 219 Parkman Avenue , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15260 , United States
| | - Kevin C Leonard
- Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering , University of Kansas , 1501 Wakarusa Drive , Lawrence , Kansas 66047 , United States
| | - Shigeru Amemiya
- Department of Chemistry , University of Pittsburgh , 219 Parkman Avenue , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15260 , United States
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Bentley CL, Edmondson J, Meloni GN, Perry D, Shkirskiy V, Unwin PR. Nanoscale Electrochemical Mapping. Anal Chem 2018; 91:84-108. [PMID: 30500157 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b05235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Advances and Perspectives in Chemical Imaging in Cellular Environments Using Electrochemical Methods. CHEMOSENSORS 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/chemosensors6020024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Meloni GN. 3D Printed and Microcontrolled: The One Hundred Dollars Scanning Electrochemical Microscope. Anal Chem 2017; 89:8643-8649. [PMID: 28741350 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b01764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The design and fabrication of a versatile and low-cost electrochemical-scanning probe microscope (EC-SPM) is presented. The proposed equipment relies on the use of modern prototyping tools such as 3D printers and microcontroller boards and only a few "off-the-shelf" parts to deliver a simple yet powerful EC-SPM equipment capable of performing simple space-resolved electrochemical measurements. The equipment was able to perform space-resolved electrochemical measurements using a platinum ultramicroelectrode (UME) as the working electrode on a scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) configuration and was used to record approach curves, line scans, and array scans over an insulating substrate. The performance of the proposed equipment was found to be adequate for simple SECM measurements under hindered diffusion conditions. Because of its flexible design (software and hardware), more complex array scan patterns, only found on high-end EC-SPM setups such as hopping mode scan, were easily implemented on the built equipment. Despite its simplicity, the versatility and low cost of the proposed design make it an attractive alternative as a teaching platform as well as a platform for developing more elaborate EC-SPM setups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel N Meloni
- Instituto de Química Universidade de São Paulo , Av. Profesor Lineu Prestes, 748, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil 05508-000
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Meloni GN, Bertotti M. 3D printing scanning electron microscopy sample holders: A quick and cost effective alternative for custom holder fabrication. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0182000. [PMID: 28753638 PMCID: PMC5533330 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A simple and cost effective alternative for fabricating custom Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) sample holders using 3D printers and conductive polylactic acid filament is presented. The flexibility of the 3D printing process allowed for the fabrication of sample holders with specific features that enable the high-resolution imaging of nanoelectrodes and nanopipettes. The precise value of the inner semi cone angle of the nanopipettes taper was extracted from the acquired images and used for calculating their radius using electrochemical methods. Because of the low electrical resistivity presented by the 3D printed holder, the imaging of non-conductive nanomaterials, such as alumina powder, was found to be possible. The fabrication time for each sample holder was under 30 minutes and the average cost was less than $0.50 per piece. Despite being quick and economical to fabricate, the sample holders were found to be sufficiently resistant, allowing for multiple uses of the same holder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel N. Meloni
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo—SP, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - Mauro Bertotti
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo—SP, Brazil
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Tomlinson LI, Patten HV, Green BL, Iacobini J, Meadows KE, McKelvey K, Unwin PR, Newton ME, Macpherson JV. Intermittent-contact Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (IC-SECM) as a Quantitative Probe of Defects in Single Crystal Boron Doped Diamond Electrodes. ELECTROANAL 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/elan.201600291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Katherine E. Meadows
- Department of Chemistry
- MOAC Doctoral Training Centre; University of Warwick; Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Kim McKelvey
- MOAC Doctoral Training Centre; University of Warwick; Coventry CV4 7AL UK
- Department of Chemistry
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Tan SY, Zhang J, Bond AM, Macpherson JV, Unwin PR. Impact of Adsorption on Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy Voltammetry and Implications for Nanogap Measurements. Anal Chem 2016; 88:3272-80. [PMID: 26877069 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b04715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sze-yin Tan
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, West Midlands CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
- School
of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Jie Zhang
- School
of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Alan M. Bond
- School
of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Julie V. Macpherson
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, West Midlands CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick R. Unwin
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, West Midlands CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
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Perry AR, Lazenby RA, Adobes-Vidal M, Peruffo M, McKelvey K, Snowden ME, Unwin PR. Hopping intermittent contact-scanning electrochemical microscopy (HIC-SECM) as a new local dissolution kinetic probe: application to salicylic acid dissolution in aqueous solution. CrystEngComm 2015; 17:7835-7843. [PMID: 39086503 PMCID: PMC11288246 DOI: 10.1039/c5ce00138b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2015] [Accepted: 06/25/2015] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Dissolution kinetics of the (110) face of salicylic acid in aqueous solution is determined by hopping intermittent contact-scanning electrochemical microscopy (HIC-SECM) using a 2.5 μm diameter platinum ultramicroelectrode (UME). The method operates by translating the probe UME towards the surface at a series of positions across the crystal and inducing dissolution via the reduction of protons to hydrogen, which titrates the weak acid and promotes the dissolution reaction, but only when the UME is close to the crystal. Most importantly, as dissolution is only briefly and transiently induced at each location, the initial dissolution kinetics of an as-grown single crystal surface can be measured, rather than a surface which has undergone significant dissolution (pitting), as in other techniques. Mass transport and kinetics in the system are modelled using finite element method simulations which allows dissolution rate constants to be evaluated. It is found that the kinetics of an 'as-grown' crystal are much slower than for a surface that has undergone partial bulk dissolution (mimicking conventional techniques), which can be attributed to a dramatic change in surface morphology as identified by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The 'as-grown' (110) surface presents extended terrace structures to the solution which evidently dissolve slowly, whereas a partially dissolved surface has extensive etch features and step sites which greatly enhance dissolution kinetics. This means that crystals such as salicylic acid will show time-dependent dissolution kinetics (fluxes) that are strongly dependent on crystal history, and this needs to be taken into account to fully understand dissolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelia R Perry
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Robert A Lazenby
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Maria Adobes-Vidal
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Massimo Peruffo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Kim McKelvey
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Michael E Snowden
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Patrick R Unwin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
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Clausmeyer J, Schäfer D, Nebel M, Schuhmann W. Temperature-Induced Modulation of the Sample Position in Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy. ChemElectroChem 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/celc.201500087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Nadappuram BP, McKelvey K, Byers JC, Güell AG, Colburn AW, Lazenby RA, Unwin PR. Quad-barrel multifunctional electrochemical and ion conductance probe for voltammetric analysis and imaging. Anal Chem 2015; 87:3566-73. [PMID: 25719392 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b00379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The fabrication and use of a multifunctional electrochemical probe incorporating two independent carbon working electrodes and two electrolyte-filled barrels, equipped with quasi-reference counter electrodes (QRCEs), in the end of a tapered micrometer-scale pipet is described. This "quad-probe" (4-channel probe) was fabricated by depositing carbon pyrolytically into two diagonally opposite barrels of a laser-pulled quartz quadruple-barrelled pipet. After filling the open channels with electrolyte solution, a meniscus forms at the end of the probe and covers the two working electrodes. The two carbon electrodes can be used to drive local electrochemical reactions within the meniscus while a bias between the QRCEs in the electrolyte channels provides an ion conductance signal that is used to control and position the meniscus on a surface of interest. When brought into contact with a surface, localized high resolution amperometric imaging can be achieved with the two carbon working electrodes with a spatial resolution defined by the meniscus contact area. The substrate can be an insulating material or (semi)conductor, but herein, we focus mainly on conducting substrates that can be connected as a third working electrode. Studies using both aqueous and ionic liquid electrolytes in the probe, together with gold and individual single walled carbon nanotube samples, demonstrate the utility of the technique. Substrate generation-dual tip collection measurements are shown to be characterized by high collection efficiencies (approaching 100%). This hybrid configuration of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM) should be powerful for future applications in electrode mapping, as well as in studies of insulating materials as demonstrated by transient spot redox-titration measurements at an electrostatically charged Teflon surface and at a pristine calcite surface, where a functionalized probe is used to follow the immediate pH change due to dissolution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kim McKelvey
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Joshua C Byers
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Aleix G Güell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Alex W Colburn
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Robert A Lazenby
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick R Unwin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
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Haywood DG, Saha-Shah A, Baker LA, Jacobson SC. Fundamental studies of nanofluidics: nanopores, nanochannels, and nanopipets. Anal Chem 2014; 87:172-87. [PMID: 25405581 PMCID: PMC4287834 DOI: 10.1021/ac504180h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel G Haywood
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University , Bloomington, Indiana 47405-7102, United States
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O’Connell MA, Wain AJ. Mapping Electroactivity at Individual Catalytic Nanostructures Using High-Resolution Scanning Electrochemical–Scanning Ion Conductance Microcopy. Anal Chem 2014; 86:12100-7. [DOI: 10.1021/ac502946q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrew J. Wain
- National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington TW11 0LW, United Kingdom
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Kleijn SEF, Lai SCS, Koper MTM, Unwin PR. Electrochemistry of Nanoparticles. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2014; 53:3558-86. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201306828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 304] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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