Electrodeposition of Platinum on Nanometer-Sized Carbon Electrodes

Understanding the nanoscale phenomena of nucleation and crystal growth in electrodeposition

Electrodeposition is used at the industrial scale to make coatings, membranes, and composites. With better understanding of the nanoscale phenomena associated with the early stage of the process, electrodeposition has potential to be adopted by manufacturers of energy storage devices, advanced electrode materials, fuel cells, carbon dioxide capturing technologies, and advanced sensing electronics. The ability to conduct precise electrochemical measurements using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and chronopotentiometry in addition to control of precursor composition and concentration makes electrocrystallization an attractive method to investigate nucleation and early-stage crystal growth. In this article, we review recent findings of nucleation and crystal growth behaviors at the nanoscale, paying close attention to those that deviate from the classical theories in various electrodeposition systems. The review affirms electrodeposition as a valuable method both for gaining new insights into nucleation and crystallization on surfaces and as a low-cost scalable technology for the manufacturing of advanced materials and devices.

Single Entity Electrocatalysis

Making a measurement over millions of nanoparticles or exposed crystal facets seldom reports on reactivity of a single nanoparticle or facet, which may depart drastically from ensemble measurements. Within the past 30 years, science has moved toward studying the reactivity of single atoms, molecules, and nanoparticles, one at a time. This shift has been fueled by the realization that everything changes at the nanoscale, especially important industrially relevant properties like those important to electrocatalysis. Studying single nanoscale entities, however, is not trivial and has required the development of new measurement tools. This review explores a tale of the clever use of old and new measurement tools to study electrocatalysis at the single entity level. We explore in detail the complex interrelationship between measurement method, electrocatalytic material, and reaction of interest (e.g., carbon dioxide reduction, oxygen reduction, hydrazine oxidation, etc.). We end with our perspective on the future of single entity electrocatalysis with a key focus on what types of measurements present the greatest opportunity for fundamental discovery.

A troubleshooting guide for laser pulling platinum nanoelectrodes

While there are numerous publications on laser-assisted fabrication and characterization of Pt nanoelectrodes, the exact replication of those procedures is not as straightforward as following a single recipe across laboratories. Often, the working procedures vary by day, by laser puller, or by person. Only a handful of nanoelectrode fabrication papers record their parameters, and even fewer offer troubleshooting advice. Here, we provide a step-by-step guide for laser-assisted Pt nanoelectrode fabrication using low-cost equipment including a laser puller, voltammetry, and simple microscope images captured via cell phone. We also offer solutions for common failures experienced throughout the process to guide beginners as they troubleshoot their own fabrication procedures.

Electrochemical-Shock Synthesis of Nanoparticles from Sub-femtoliter Nanodroplets

ConspectusNanoparticles have witnessed immense development in the past several decades due to their intriguing physicochemical properties. The modern chemist is interested not only in methods of synthesizing nanoparticles with tunable properties but also in the chemistry that nanoparticles can drive. While several methods exist to synthesize nanoparticles, it is often advantageous to put nanoparticles on a variety of conductive substrates for multiple applications (such as energy storage and conversion). Despite enjoying over 200 years of development, electrodeposition of nanoparticles suffers from a lack of control over nanoparticle size and morphology. There have been heroic efforts to address these issues over time. With an understanding that structure-function studies are imperative to understand the chemistry of nanoparticles, new methods are necessary to electrodeposit a variety of nanoparticles with control over macromorphology and also microstructure.This Account details our group's efforts in overcoming challenges of classical nanoparticle electrodeposition by electrodepositing nanoparticles from water nanodroplets. When a nanodroplet full of metal salt precursor is incident on the electrode biased sufficiently negative to drive electroplating, nanoparticles form at a fast rate (on the order of microseconds to milliseconds). We start with the general nuts-and-bolts of the experiment (nanodroplet formation and methods for electrodeposition). The deposition of new nanomaterials often requires one to develop new methods of measurement, and we detail new measurement tools for quantifying nanoparticle porosity and nanopore tortuosity within single nanoparticles. We achieve nanopore characterization by using Focused Ion Beam milling and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Owing to the small size of the nanodroplets and fast mass transfer (the contents of a femtoliter droplet can be electrolyzed in only a few milliseconds), the use of nanodroplets also allows the electrodeposition of high entropy alloy nanoparticles at room temperature.We detail how a deep understanding of ion transfer mechanisms can be used to expand the library of possible metals that can be deposited. Furthermore, simple ion changes in the dispersed droplet phase can decrease the cost per experiment by orders of magnitude. Finally, electrodeposition in aqueous nanodroplets can also be combined with stochastic electrochemistry for a variety of interesting studies. We detail the quantification of the growth kinetics of single nanoparticles in single aqueous nanodroplets. Nanodroplets can also be used as tiny reactors to trap only a few molecules of a metal salt precursor. Upon reduction to the zerovalent metal, electrocatalysis at very small metal clusters can be probed and evaluated with time using steady-state electrochemical measurements. Overall, this burgeoning synthetic tool is providing unexpected avenues of tunability of metal nanoparticles on conductive substrates.

Toward Precision Deposition of Conductive Charge-Transfer Complex Crystals Using Nanoelectrochemistry

The lack of understanding for precise synthesis and assembly of nano-entities remains a major challenge for nanofabrication. Electrocrystallization of a charge-transfer complex (CTC), tetrathiafulvalene bromide (TTF)Br, is studied on micro/nanoelectrodes for precision deposition of functional materials. The study reveals new insights into the entire CTC electrocrystallization process from the initial nanocluster nucleation to the final elongated crystals with hollow ends grown from the working electrode to the neighboring receiving electrode. On microelectrodes, the number of nucleation sites is reduced to one by lowering the applied overpotential or precursor concentration. Certain current-time transients exhibit significant induction periods prior to stable nucleus growth. The induction regime contains small fluctuating current spikes consistent with stochastic formation of precritical nanoclusters with lifetimes of 0.1-30 s and sizes of 20-160 nm. Electrochemical analyses further reveal rate, size distribution, and formation/dissipation dynamics of the nanoclusters. Crystal growth of (TTF)Br is further studied on triangular nanoelectrode patterns with thickness of 5-500 nm, which shows a mass-transfer-controlled process applicable for precision deposition of functional (TTF)Br crystals. This study, for the first time, establishes CTC nanoelectrochemistry as a platform technology for precise deposition of conductive crystal assemblies spanning the source and drain electrode for sensing applications.

On-Demand Electrochemical Fabrication of Ordered Nanoparticle Arrays using Scanning Electrochemical Cell Microscopy

Well-ordered nanoparticle arrays are attractive platforms for a variety of analytical applications, but the fabrication of such arrays is generally challenging. Here, it is demonstrated that scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM) can be used as a powerful, instantly reconfigurable tool for the fabrication of ordered nanoparticle arrays. Using SECCM, Ag nanoparticle arrays were straightforwardly fabricated via electrodeposition at the interface between a substrate electrode and an electrolyte-filled pipet. By dynamically monitoring the currents flowing in an SECCM cell, individual nucleation and growth events could be detected and controlled to yield individual nanoparticles of controlled size. Characterization of the resulting arrays demonstrate that this SECCM-based approach enables spatial control of nanoparticle location comparable with the terminal diameter of the pipet employed and straightforward control over the volume of material deposited at each site within an array. These results provide further evidence for the utility of probe-based electrochemical techniques such as SECCM as tools for surface modification in addition to analysis.

Electrochemistry under confinement

Although the term 'confinement' regularly appears in electrochemical literature, elevated by continuous progression in the research of nanomaterials and nanostructures, up until today the various aspects of confinement considered in electrochemistry are rather scattered individual contributions outside the established disciplines in this field. Thanks to a number of highly original publications and the growing appreciation of confinement as an overarching link between different exciting new research strategies, 'electrochemistry under confinement' is the process of forming a research discipline of its own. To aid the development a coherent terminology and joint basic concepts, as crucial factors for this transformation, this review provides an overview on the different effects on electrochemical processes known to date that can be caused by confinement. It also suggests where boundaries to other effects, such as nano-effects could be drawn. To conceptualize the vast amount of research activities revolving around the main concepts of confinement, we define six types of confinement and select two of them to discuss the state of the art and anticipated future developments in more detail. The first type concerns nanochannel environments and their applications for electrodeposition and for electrochemical sensing. The second type covers the rather newly emerging field of colloidal single entity confinement in electrochemistry. In these contexts, we will for instance address the influence of confinement on the mass transport and electric field distributions and will link the associated changes in local species concentration or in the local driving force to altered reaction kinetics and product selectivity. Highlighting pioneering works and exciting recent developments, this educational review does not only aim at surveying and categorizing the state-of-the-art, but seeks to specifically point out future perspectives in the field of confinement-controlled electrochemistry.

Correlating Surface Structures and Electrochemical Activity Using Shape-Controlled Single-Pt Nanoparticles

We report a method for synthesizing and studying shape-controlled, single Pt nanoparticles (NPs) supported on carbon nanoelectrodes. The key advance is that the synthetic method makes it possible to produce single, electrochemically active NPs with a vast range of crystal structures and sizes. Equally important, the NPs can be fully characterized, and, therefore, the electrochemical properties of the NPs can be directly correlated to the size and structure of a single shape. This makes it possible to directly correlate experimental results to first-principles theory. Because just one well-characterized NP is analyzed at a time, the difficulty of applying a theoretical analysis to an ensemble of NPs having different sizes and structures is avoided. In this article, we report on two specific Pt NP shapes having sizes on the order of 200 nm: concave hexoctahedral (HOH) and concave trapezohedral (TPH). The former has {15 6 1} facets and the latter {10 1 1} facets. The electrochemical properties of these single NPs for the formic acid oxidation (FAO) reaction are compared to those of a single, spherical polycrystalline Pt NP of the same size. Finally, density functional theory, performed prior to the electrochemical studies, were used to interpret the experimental results of the FAO experiments.

Single-nanoparticle spectroelectrochemistry studies enabled by localized surface plasmon resonance

This review describes recent progress of spectroelectrochemistry (SEC) analysis of single metallic nanoparticles (NPs) which have strong surface plasmon resonance properties. Dark-field scattering (DFS), photoluminescence (PL), and electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) are three commonly used optical methods to detect individual NPs and investigate their local redox activities in an electrochemical cell. These SEC methods are highly dependent on a strong light-scattering cross-section of plasmonic metals and their electrocatalytic characteristics. The surface chemistry and the catalyzed reaction mechanism of single NPs and their chemical transformations can be studied using these SEC methods. Recent progress in the experimental design and fundamental understanding of single-NP electrochemistry and catalyzed reactions using DFS, PL, and ECL is described along with selected examples from recent publications in this field. Perspectives on the challenges and possible solutions for these SEC methods and potential new directions are discussed.

Electrocatalysis as the Nexus for Sustainable Renewable Energy: The Gordian Knot of Activity, Stability, and Selectivity

The use of renewable energy by means of electrochemical techniques by converting H2 O, CO2 and N2 into chemical energy sources and raw materials, is the basis for securing a future sustainable "green" energy supply. Some weaknesses and inconsistencies in the practice of determining the electrocatalytic performance, which prevents a rational bottom-up catalyst design, are discussed. Large discrepancies in material properties as well as in electrocatalytic activity and stability become obvious when materials are tested under the conditions of their intended use as opposed to the usual laboratory conditions. They advocate for uniform activity/stability correlations under application-relevant conditions, and the need for a clear representation of electrocatalytic performance by contextualization in terms of functional investigation or progress towards application is emphasized.

Platinum Nanoparticles on Sintered Metal Fibers Are Efficient Structured Catalysts in Partial Methane Oxidation into Synthesis Gas

Efficient structured catalysts of partial methane oxidation into synthesis gas were obtained by electrochemical modification of the surface of sintered FeCrAl alloy fibers in an ionic liquid BMIM-NTf₂ with further introduction of platinum nanoparticles. It was shown that etching and electrochemical modification of sintered FeCrAl alloy fibers result in a decrease of the surface aluminum content. With an increase of the reaction temperature to 900 °C, the methane conversion reaches 90% and the selectivity to CO increases significantly to achieve 98%. The catalysts with a Pt loading of 1 × 10^-4 wt % demonstrate high activity and selectivity as well as TOF in synthesis gas production by the CH₄ + O₂ reaction at 850-900 °C. To trace the composition and structure evolution of the catalysts, XRD and SEM methods were used.

Probing Size and Substrate Effects on the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction by Single Isolated Pt Atoms, Atomic Clusters, and Nanoparticles

We report the catalytic activity of a single, isolated Pt deposit on Bi and Pb supports to probe the size and substrate effects on the electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Deposits were made electrolytically by an atom-by-atom method in a controlled plating; we prepared an individual Pt deposit on Bi and Pb ultramicroelectrodes (UMEs) such as a single isolated atom, clusters containing one to five Pt atoms, and nanoparticles to about 10 nm radius. A steady-state voltammogram on the single Pt deposits is observed by electrocatalytic amplification of the HER, with a negligible contribution by the HER at the substrate UME. A single Pt atom can act as an electrode for the HER, showing a diffusion-limiting current plateau in the voltammogram that can be used to estimate the radius of a single deposit. We simulated the voltammograms of the individual deposits, assuming the Volmer step of the HER is appropriate for a Pt cluster deposit, to obtain kinetic parameters for each deposit. The HER kinetics increases as the particle radius increases from ∼0.2 to ∼4 nm for Bi and Pb substrates and then reaches a limiting plateau. The limiting kinetics on the Bi substrate approaches that of bulk Pt while that on the Pb substrate is much smaller.

Fine-Tuning Porosity and Time-Resolved Observation of the Nucleation and Growth of Single Platinum Nanoparticles

Porous metal nanoparticles (NPs) are important to a variety of applications; however, robust control over NP porosity is difficult to achieve. Here, we demonstrate control over NP porosity using nanodroplet-mediated electrodeposition by introducing glycerol into water droplets. Porosity approached 0 under viscous conditions (>6 cP), and intermediate viscosities allowed the fine-tuning of NP porosity between 0 and 15%. This method also allowed for control over average pore radius (1 to 5 nm) and pore density (2 to 6 × 10¹⁵ pores per square meter). Reduced mass transfer within water droplets was validated by studying single chloroplatinate-filled water droplet (droplet radius of ∼450 nm) collisions on a platinum ultramicroelectrode (UME, r_UME = 5 μm). Collision transient lifetimes in the i- t response increased with increasing viscosity, and the total charge per event was conserved. The change in shape was consistent with the nucleation and growth of a platinum NP within the droplet, which was confirmed by fitting transients to classical nucleation and growth theory for single centers as a function of over-potential. This analysis allowed electrokinetic growth and diffusion-controlled growth to be distinguished and semi-quantified at the single NP level.

Electrochemiluminescence observing the surface features of Ru-doped silica nanoparticles based on nanoparticle-ultramicroelectrode collision

We present an innovative and sensitive electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) strategy for observing the surface feature of a single silica nanoparticle based on its collision with an ultramicroelectrode (UME). As an ECL luminophore, Ru(bpy)₃ ²⁺ molecules are doped into silica nanoparticles. The stochastic collision events of Ru(bpy)₃ ²⁺ -doped silica nanoparticles (RuSNPs) can be tracked by observing the ECL 'blips' from the ECL reaction of Ru(bpy)₃ ²⁺ with a coreactant in solution. When RuSNPs collided with UME, Ru(bpy)₃ ²⁺ molecules that only exist near the collision site of silica nanoparticles (NPs) were electrochemically oxidized to form Ru(bpy)₃ ³⁺ , and then emitted light, because silica NPs are insulated. The inhomogeneous properties of silica nanoparticle surfaces will produce diverse ECL blips in intensity and shape. In addition, distribution gradients from the he Ru(bpy)₃ ²⁺ in a silica matrix also affect ECL blips. Some information on the surface properties of silica NPs can be obtained by observation of single silica collision events.

Emerging tools for studying single entity electrochemistry

Electrochemistry studies charge transfer and related processes at various microscopic structures (atomic steps, islands, pits and kinks on electrodes), and mesoscopic materials (nanoparticles, nanowires, viruses, vesicles and cells) made by nature and humans, involving ions and molecules. The traditional approach measures averaged electrochemical quantities of a large ensemble of these individual entities, including the microstructures, mesoscopic materials, ions and molecules. There is a need to develop tools to study single entities because a real system is usually heterogeneous, e.g., containing nanoparticles with different sizes and shapes. Even in the case of "homogeneous" molecules, they bind to different microscopic structures of an electrode, assume different conformations and fluctuate over time, leading to heterogeneous reactions. Here we highlight some emerging tools for studying single entity electrochemistry, discuss their strengths and weaknesses, and provide personal views on the need for tools with new capabilities for further advancing single entity electrochemistry.

Flexible all-solid-state ultrahigh-energy asymmetric supercapacitors based on tailored morphology of NiCoO2/Ni(OH)2/Co(OH)2 electrodes

One of the important requirements of energy storage devices is to store more energy per unit area.

Shape-controlled electrodeposition of single Pt nanocrystals onto carbon nanoelectrodes

In this paper, we report the electrosynthesis and characterization of individual, shape-controlled Pt nanocrystals electrodeposited on carbon nanoelectrodes.

Electrochemical Size Measurement and Characterization of Electrodeposited Platinum Nanoparticles at Nanometer Resolution with Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy

The properties of nanoparticles (NPs) are determined by their size and geometric structures. A reliable determination of NP dimension is critical for understanding their physical and chemical properties, but sizing ultrasmall particles on the order of nanometer (nm) scale in the solution is still challenging. Here, we report the size measurement of PtNP at nanometer resolution by in situ scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), performed with the electrochemical generation and removal of H₂ bubble at a reasonably small distance between tip and substrate electrodes in 200 or 500 mM HClO₄ solution. A series of different PtNPs or nanoclusters were electrodeposited and in situ measured in the solution, proving the concept of sizing ultrasmall particles using tip generation/substrate collection mode of SECM. This technique could be also used for investigations of other supported ultrasmall metal nanocluster systems.

Ultramicroelectrode Studies of Self-Terminated Nickel Electrodeposition and Nickel Hydroxide Formation upon Water Reduction

The interaction between electrodeposition of Ni and electrolyte breakdown, namely the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) via H₃O⁺ and H₂O reduction, was investigated under well-defined mass transport conditions using ultramicroelectrodes (UME's) coupled with optical imaging, generation/collection scanning electrochemical microscopy (G/C-SECM), and preliminary microscale pH measurements. For 5 mmol/L NiCl₂ + 0.1 mol/L NaCl, pH 3.0, electrolytes, the voltammetric current at modest overpotentials, i.e., between -0.6 V and -1.4 V vs. Ag/AgCl, was distributed between metal deposition and H₃O⁺ reduction, with both reactions reaching mass transport limited current values. At more negative potentials, an unusual sharp current spike appeared upon the onset of H₂O reduction that was accompanied by a transient increase in H₂ production. The peak potential of the current spike was a function of both [Ni(H₂O)₆]²⁺_(aq) concentration and pH. The sharp rise in current was ascribed to the onset of autocatalytic H₂O reduction, where electrochemically generated OH^- species induce heterogeneous nucleation of Ni(OH)_2(ads) islands, the perimeter of which is reportedly active for H₂O reduction. As the layer coalesces, further metal deposition is quenched while H₂O reduction continues albeit at a decreased rate as fewer of the most reactive sites, e.g., Ni/Ni(OH)₂ island edges, are available. At potentials below -1.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl, H₂O reduction is accelerated, leading to homogeneous precipitation of bulk Ni(OH)₂·xH₂O within the nearly hemispherical diffusion layer of the UME.

Advanced Electrochemistry of Individual Metal Clusters Electrodeposited Atom by Atom to Nanometer by Nanometer

Metal clusters are very important as building blocks for nanoparticles (NPs) for electrocatalysis and electroanalysis in both fundamental and applied electrochemistry. Attention has been given to understanding of traditional nucleation and growth of metal clusters and to their catalytic activities for various electrochemical applications in energy harvesting as well as analytical sensing. Importantly, understanding the properties of these clusters, primarily the relationship between catalysis and morphology, is required to optimize catalytic function. This has been difficult due to the heterogeneities in the size, shape, and surface properties. Thus, methods that address these issues are necessary to begin understanding the reactivity of individual catalytic centers as opposed to ensemble measurements, where the effect of size and morphology on the catalysis is averaged out in the measurement. This Account introduces our advanced electrochemical approaches to focus on each isolated metal cluster, where we electrochemically fabricated clusters or NPs atom by atom to nanometer by nanometer and explored their electrochemistry for their kinetic and catalytic behavior. Such approaches expand the dimensions of analysis, to include the electrochemistry of (1) a discrete atomic cluster, (2) solely a single NP, or (3) individual NPs in the ensemble sample. Specifically, we studied the electrocatalysis of atomic metal clusters as a nascent electrocatalyst via direct electrodeposition on carbon ultramicroelectrode (C UME) in a femtomolar metal ion precursor. In addition, we developed tunneling ultramicroelectrodes (TUMEs) to study electron transfer (ET) kinetics of a redox probe at a single metal NP electrodeposited on this TUME. Owing to the small dimension of a NP as an active area of a TUME, extremely high mass transfer conditions yielded a remarkably high standard ET rate constant, k⁰, of 36 cm/s for outer-sphere ET reaction. Most recently, we advanced nanoscale scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) imaging to resolve the electrocatalytic activity of individual electrodeposited NPs within an ensemble sample yielding consistent high k⁰ values of ≥2 cm/s for the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) at different NPs. We envision that our advanced electrochemical approaches will enable us to systematically address structure effects on the catalytic activity, thus providing a quantitative guideline for electrocatalysts in energy-related applications.

Single-Nanoparticle Electrochemistry through Immobilization and Collision

Metal nanoparticles are key electrode materials in a variety of electrochemical applications including basic electron-transfer study, electrochemical sensing, and electrochemical surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Metal nanoparticles have also been extensively applied to electrocatalytic processes in recent years due to their high catalytic activity and large surface areas. Because the catalytic activity of metal nanoparticle is often highly dependent on their size, shape, surface ligands, and so forth, methods for examining and better understanding the correlation between particle structure and function are of great utility in the development of more efficient catalytic systems. Despite considerable progress in this field, the understanding of the structure-activity relationships remains challenging in nanoparticle-based electrochemistry and electrocatalysis due to limitations associated with traditional ensemble measurements. One of the major issues is the ensemble averaging of the electrocatalytic response which occurs over a very large number of nanoparticles of various sizes and shapes. Additionally, the electrochemical response can also be greatly affected by properties of the ensemble itself, such as the particle spacing. The ability to directly measure kinetics of electrochemical reactions at structurally well-characterized single nanoparticles opens up new possibilities in many important areas including nanoscale electrochemistry, electrochemical sensing, and nanoparticle electrocatalysis. When a macroscopic electrode is placed in a solution containing redox molecules and metal nanoparticles, random collision and adsorption of nanoparticles occurs at the electrode surface in addition to redox reactions when a suitable potential is present on the electrode. In a special case where particles are catalytically more active than the substrate, the faradaic signals can be greatly amplified on particle surfaces and a steady shift in the baseline current would be expected due to many particles adsorbing on the electrode. Single particle events can be temporally resolved when an ultramicroelectrode (UME) is used as the recording electrode. The use of an UME not only reduces the collision frequency, but also greatly decreases baseline noise, thereby resulting in clear resolution of single collision events. Single particle collision has quickly grown into a popular electroanalytical technique in recent years. Alternatively, one can use nanoelectrodes to immobilize single nanoparticles so that they can be individually studied in electrochemistry and electrocatalysis. Nanoparticle immobilization also allows one to obtain detailed structural information on the same particles and offers enormous potential for developing more comprehensive understanding of the structure-function relationship in nanoparticle-based electrocatalysts. This Account summarizes recent electrochemical experiments of single metal nanoparticles which have been performed by our group using both of these schemes.

Focused-Ion-Beam-Milled Carbon Nanoelectrodes for Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy

Nanoscale scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) has emerged as a powerful electrochemical method that enables the study of interfacial reactions with unprecedentedly high spatial and kinetic resolution. In this work, we develop carbon nanoprobes with high electrochemical reactivity and well-controlled size and geometry based on chemical vapor deposition of carbon in quartz nanopipets. Carbon-filled nanopipets are milled by focused ion beam (FIB) technology to yield a flat disk tip with a thin quartz sheath as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The extremely high electroactivity of FIB-milled carbon nanotips is quantified by enormously high standard electron-transfer rate constants of ≥10 cm/s for Ru(NH3)63+. The tip size and geometry are characterized in electrolyte solutions by SECM approach curve measurements not only to determine inner and outer tip radii of down to ~27 and ~38 nm, respectively, but also to ensure the absence of a conductive carbon layer on the outer wall. In addition, FIB-milled carbon nanotips reveal the limited conductivity of ~100 nm-thick gold films under nanoscale mass-transport conditions. Importantly, carbon nanotips must be protected from electrostatic damage to enable reliable and quantitative nanoelectrochemical measurements.

An analytical model of hydrogen evolution and oxidation reactions on electrodes partially covered with a catalyst

Our previous theoretical study on the performance limits of the platinum (Pt) nanoparticle catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) had shown that the mass transport losses at a partially catalyst-covered planar electrode are independent of the catalyst loading. This suggests that the two-dimensional (2D) numerical model used could be simplified to a one-dimensional (1D) model to provide an easier but equally accurate description of the operation of these HER electrodes. In this article, we derive an analytical 1D model and show that it indeed gives results that are practically identical to the 2D numerical simulations. We discuss the general principles of the model and how it can be used to extend the applicability of existing electrochemical models of planar electrodes to low catalyst loadings suitable for operating photoelectrochemical devices under unconcentrated sunlight. Since the mass transport losses of the HER are often very sensitive to the H2 concentration, we also discuss the limiting current density of the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) and how it is not necessarily independent of the reaction kinetics. The results give insight into the interplay of kinetic and mass-transport limitations at HER/HOR electrodes with implications for the design of kinetic experiments and the optimization of catalyst loadings in the photoelectrochemical cells.

Nucleation, aggregative growth and detachment of metal nanoparticles during electrodeposition at electrode surfaces

The nucleation and growth of metal nanoparticles (NPs) on surfaces is of considerable interest with regard to creating functional interfaces with myriad applications. Yet, key features of these processes remain elusive and are undergoing revision. Here, the mechanism of the electrodeposition of silver on basal plane highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) is investigated as a model system at a wide range of length scales, spanning electrochemical measurements from the macroscale to the nanoscale using scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM), a pipette-based approach. The macroscale measurements show that the nucleation process cannot be modelled as either truly instantaneous or progressive, and that step edge sites of HOPG do not play a dominant role in nucleation events compared to the HOPG basal plane, as has been widely proposed. Moreover, nucleation numbers extracted from electrochemical analysis do not match those determined by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The high time and spatial resolution of the nanoscale pipette set-up reveals individual nucleation and growth events at the graphite basal surface that are resolved and analysed in detail. Based on these results, corroborated with complementary microscopy measurements, we propose that a nucleation-aggregative growth-detachment mechanism is an important feature of the electrodeposition of silver NPs on HOPG. These findings have major implications for NP electrodeposition and for understanding electrochemical processes at graphitic materials generally.

Diffusion mechanism of platinum nanoclusters on well-aligned carbon nanotubes

Carbon supported platinum (Pt/C) remains among the preferred catalyst materials for use in proton exchange membrane fuel cells; however, its durability must be improved.