Keynote Speaker
Dr. Alexander Klasen
Scanning Probe Microscopy for Electrochemical Research
by Park Systems
1Park Systems Europe GmbH, Schildkroetstraße 15, 68199 Mannheim, Germany
Electrochemical (EC) applications, ranging from novel energy storage systems to advanced catalysts, are defined on an ever-decreasing length scale. Investigating these systems requires mapping key functional features with sufficient resolution, such as the local structure, electronic properties and electrochemical response. Scanning probe microscopy-based techniques are well established to investigate surface parameters using the physical interaction with a nanometer-sized probe allowing the study of properties such as the topography, work function, or adhesion at high resolution.1,2
This talk provides an overview of different cantilever-based and pipette-based modes used to characterize EC relevant materials. Among the cantilever-based techniques, we briefly introduce and show some exemplary results measured with Conductive Atomic Force Microscopy (CAFM), Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM), Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM) and Electrochemical AFM (EC AFM). Moreover, we showcase how an electrolyte-filled pipette can be employed instead of a cantilever to probe local EC features, namely using Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy SECM (SICM-SECM) and Scanning Electrochemical Cell microscopy (SECCM).3
Finally, we briefly discuss recent examples from literature, discuss the limitations of SECCM and outline potential pathways to overcome those.4–7
References:
1. Eaton, P. & West, P. Atomic force microscopy. (Oxford university press, 2010).
2. Wiesendanger, R. Scanning probe microscopy and spectroscopy: methods and applications. (Cambridge university press, 1994).
3. Daviddi, E., Gonos, K. L., Colburn, A. W., Bentley, C. L. & Unwin, P. R. Scanning Electrochemical Cell Microscopy (SECCM) Chronopotentiometry: Development and Applications in Electroanalysis and Electrocatalysis. Anal. Chem. 91, 9229–9237 (2019).
4. Liu, G. et al. A simple approach for effectively improving the resolution of scanning electrochemical cell microscopy. Sensors Actuators B Chem. 409, 135603 (2024).
5. Choi, M. et al. Probing Single-Particle Electrocatalytic Activity at Facet-Controlled Gold Nanocrystals. Nano Lett. 20, 1233–1239 (2020).
6. Brunet Cabré, M., Paiva, A. E., Velický, M., Colavita, P. E. & McKelvey, K. Electrochemical kinetics as a function of transition metal dichalcogenide thickness. Electrochim. Acta 393, (2021).
7. Cabré, M. B., Paiva, A. E., Velický, M., Colavita, P. E. & McKelvey, K. Electrochemical Detection of Isolated Nanoscale Defects in 2D Transition Metal Dichalcogenides. J. Phys. Chem. C 126, 11636–11641 (2022).