Landing and catalytic characterization of individual nanoparticles on electrode surfaces

J Am Chem Soc. 2012 Nov 14;134(45):18558-61. doi: 10.1021/ja309220m. Epub 2012 Nov 1.

Abstract

We demonstrate a novel and versatile pipet-based approach to study the landing of individual nanoparticles (NPs) on various electrode materials without any need for encapsulation or fabrication of complex substrate electrode structures, providing great flexibility with respect to electrode materials. Because of the small electrode area defined by the pipet dimensions, the background current is low, allowing for the detection of minute current signals with good time resolution. This approach was used to characterize the potential-dependent activity of Au NPs and to measure the catalytic activity of a single NP on a TEM grid, combining electrochemical and physical characterization at the single NP level for the first time. Such measurements open up the possibility of studying the relation between the size, structure and activity of catalyst particles unambiguously.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Electrodes
  • Gold / chemistry*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Particle Size
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Gold