Studying the binding of Cd2+ by ω-mercaptoalkanoic acid self assembled monolayers by cyclic voltammetry and scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM)

Analytical expressions for quantitative scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM)

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), is a recent analytical technique in electrochemistry, which was developed in the 1990s and uses microelectrodes to probe various surfaces. Even with the well-known disc microelectrodes, the system geometry is not as simple as in regular electrochemistry. As a consequence even the simplest experiments, the so-called positive and negative feedback approach curves, cannot be described with exact analytical expressions. This review gathers all the analytical expressions available in the SECM literature in steady-state feedback experiments. Some of them are claimed as general expressions, other are presented as approximate. Their validity is discussed in the light of the current understanding and computer facilities.

Interrogation of surfaces for the quantification of adsorbed species on electrodes: oxygen on gold and platinum in neutral media

We introduce a new in situ electrochemical technique based on the scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM) operating in a transient feedback mode for the detection and direct quantification of adsorbed species on the surface of electrodes. A SECM tip generates a titrant from a reversible redox mediator that reacts chemically with an electrogenerated or chemically adsorbed species at a substrate of about the same size as the tip, which is positioned at a short distance from it (ca.1 microm). The reaction between the titrant and the adsorbate provides a transient positive feedback loop until the adsorbate is consumed completely. The sensing mechanism is provided by the contrast between positive and negative feedback, which allows a direct quantification of the charge neutralized at the substrate. The proposed technique allows quantification of the adsorbed species generated at the substrate at a given potential under open circuit conditions, a feature not attainable with conventional electrochemical methods. Moreover, the feedback mode allows the tip to be both the titrant generator and detector, simplifying notably the experimental setup. The surface interrogation technique we introduce was tested for the quantification of electrogenerated oxides (adsorbed oxygen species) on gold and platinum electrodes at neutral pH in phosphate and TRIS buffers and with two different mediator systems. Good agreement is found with cyclic voltammetry at the substrate and with previous results in the literature, but we also find evidence for the formation of "incipient oxides" which are not revealed by conventional voltammetry. The mode of operation of the technique is supported by digital simulations, which show good agreement with the experimental results.

Review: Recent applications of scanning electrochemical microscopy to the study of charge transfer kinetics

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) has been proven to be a valuable technique for the quantitative investigation and surface analysis of a wide range of processes that occur at interfaces. In particular, there is a great deal of interest in studying the kinetics of charge transfer characteristics at the solid/liquid and liquid/liquid interface. This overview outlines recent advances and applications of SECM to the investigation of charge transfer reactions at the solid/liquid interface and liquid/liquid interface.

Scanning electrochemical microscopy for direct imaging of reaction rates

Not only in electrochemistry but also in biology and in membrane transport, localized processes at solid-liquid or liquid-liquid interfaces play an important role at defect sites, pores, or individual cells, but are difficult to characterize by integral investigation. Scanning electrochemical microscopy is suitable for such investigations. After two decades of development, this method is based on a solid theoretical foundation and a large number of demonstrated applications. It offers the possibility of directly imaging heterogeneous reaction rates and locally modifying substrates by electrochemically generated reagents. The applications range from classical electrochemical problems, such as the investigation of localized corrosion and electrocatalytic reactions in fuel cells, sensor surfaces, biochips, and microstructured analysis systems, to mass transport through synthetic membranes, skin and tissue, as well as intercellular communication processes. Moreover, processes can be studied that occur at liquid surfaces and liquid-liquid interfaces.

Ion recognition properties of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs)

In the search for new sensors, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have gained intensive interest due to their nanometre size, highly-ordered structures, and molecular recognition properties. This article presents an overview of ion recognition at SAM-modified surface/solution interfaces, and brings up to date the most notable examples for the sensing of cations and anions. Sensing is achieved with SAMs containing redox active and inactive receptors using techniques such as fluorescence spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.