Emerging tools for studying single entity electrochemistry

Single Particle Electrochemistry of Collision

A novel electrochemistry method using stochastic collision of particles at microelectrode to study their performance in single-particle scale has obtained remarkable development in recent years. This convenient and swift analytical method, which can be called "nanoimpact," is focused on the electrochemical process of the single particle rather than in complex ensemble systems. Many researchers have applied this nanoimpact method to investigate various kinds of materials in many research fields, including sensing, electrochemical catalysis, and energy storage. However, the ways how they utilize the method are quite different and the key points can be classified into four sorts: sensing particles at ultralow concentration, theory optimization, kinetics of mediated catalytic reaction, and redox electrochemistry of the particles. This review gives a brief overview of the development of the nanoimpact method from the four aspects in a new perspective.

Plasmonic Measurement of Electron Transfer between a Single Metal Nanoparticle and an Electrode through a Molecular Layer

We study electron transfer associated with electrocatalytic reduction of hydrogen on single platinum nanoparticles separated from an electrode surface with an alkanethiol monolayer using a plasmonic imaging technique. By varying the monolayer thickness, we show that the reaction rate depends on electron tunneling from the electrode to the nanoparticle. The tunneling decay constant is ∼4.3 nm^-1, which is small compared to those in literature for alkanethiols. We attribute it to a reduced tunneling barrier resulting from biasing the electrode potential negatively to the hydrogen reduction regime. In addition to allowing study of electron transfer of single nanoparticles, the work demonstrates an optical method to measure charge transport in molecules electrically wired to two electrodes.

Wireless nanopore electrodes for analysis of single entities

Measurements of a single entity underpin knowledge of the heterogeneity and stochastics in the behavior of molecules, nanoparticles, and cells. Electrochemistry provides a direct and fast method to analyze single entities as it probes electron/charge-transfer processes. However, a highly reproducible electrochemical-sensing nanointerface is often hard to fabricate because of a lack of control of the fabrication processes at the nanoscale. In comparison with conventional micro/nanoelectrodes with a metal wire inside, we present a general and easily implemented protocol that describes how to fabricate and use a wireless nanopore electrode (WNE). Nanoscale metal deposition occurs at the tip of the nanopipette, providing an electroactive sensing interface. The WNEs utilize a dynamic ionic flow instead of a metal wire to sense the interfacial redox process. WNEs provide a highly controllable interface with a 30- to 200-nm diameter. This protocol presents the construction and characterization of two types of WNEs-the open-type WNE and closed-type WNE-which can be used to achieve reproducible electrochemical measurements of single entities. Combined with the related signal amplification mechanisms, we also describe how WNEs can be used to detect single redox molecules/ions, analyze the metabolism of single cells, and discriminate single nanoparticles in a mixture. This protocol is broadly applicable to studies of living cells, nanomaterials, and sensors at the single-entity level. The total time required to complete the protocol is ~10-18 h. Each WNE costs ~$1-$3.

In Situ Measurement of the Size Distribution and Concentration of Insulating Particles by Electrochemical Collision on Hemispherical Ultramicroelectrodes

One of the greatest limitations in electrochemical collision/nanoimpact methods is the inability to quantify the size of colliding species due to the uneven current distribution on a disk ultramicroelectrode UME (so-called edge effect). This phenomenon arises since radial diffusion is greater at the edge than the center of the active electrode surface. One method of solving this problem is fabrication of a hemispherical UME. We describe the fabrication of a hemispherical Hg UME on a disk UME by a solution-based electrochemical method, chronocoulometry. The use of hemispherical Hg UME to detect collisions of individual amine-functionalized polystyrene beads removes the "edge effect" and enables simultaneous measurements of the concentration and the size distribution of colloids in suspension. Using finite element simulations, we deduce a quantitative relation between the distribution of current step size and the size distribution of the bead. The frequency of collision measured for a given size of bead is then converted into a concentration (in mol/L) by a quantification of the relative contributions of migration and diffusion for each size of bead. Under our experimental conditions (low concentration of supporting electrolyte), migration dominates the flux of bead. The average size of polystyrene beads of 0.5 and 1 μm radius obtained by electrochemistry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) differs by only -8% and -9%, respectively. The total concentration of polystyrene beads of 0.5 and 1 μm radius obtained by electrochemistry is found in close agreement (<10% of error) with their nominal concentrations (25 and 100 fM).

Advanced Nanoscale Approaches to Single-(Bio)entity Sensing and Imaging

Individual (bio)chemical entities could show a very heterogeneous behaviour under the same conditions that could be relevant in many biological processes of significance in the life sciences. Conventional detection approaches are only able to detect the average response of an ensemble of entities and assume that all entities are identical. From this perspective, important information about the heterogeneities or rare (stochastic) events happening in individual entities would remain unseen. Some nanoscale tools present interesting physicochemical properties that enable the possibility to detect systems at the single-entity level, acquiring richer information than conventional methods. In this review, we introduce the foundations and the latest advances of several nanoscale approaches to sensing and imaging individual (bio)entities using nanoprobes, nanopores, nanoimpacts, nanoplasmonics and nanomachines. Several (bio)entities such as cells, proteins, nucleic acids, vesicles and viruses are specifically considered. These nanoscale approaches provide a wide and complete toolbox for the study of many biological systems at the single-entity level.

New Frontiers and Challenges for Single-Cell Electrochemical Analysis

Previous measurements of cell populations might obscure many important cellular differences, and new strategies for single-cell analyses are urgently needed to re-examine these fundamental biological principles for better diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Electrochemistry is a robust technique for the analysis of single living cells that has the advantages of minor interruption of cellular activity and provides the capability of high spatiotemporal resolution. The achievements of the past 30 years have revealed significant information about the exocytotic events of single cells to elucidate the mechanisms of cellular activity. Currently, the rapid developments of micro/nanofabrication and optoelectronic technologies drive the development of multifunctional electrodes and novel electrochemical approaches with higher resolution for single cells. In this Perspective, three new frontiers in this field, namely, electrochemical microscopy, intracellular analysis, and single-cell analysis in a biological system (i.e., neocortex and retina), are reviewed. The unique features and remaining challenges of these techniques are discussed.

Electrode-particle impacts: a users guide

We present a comprehensive guide to nano-impact experiments, in which we introduce newcomers to this rapidly-developing field of research. Central questions are answered regarding required experimental set-ups, categories of materials that can be detected, and the theoretical frameworks enabling the analysis of experimental data. Commonly-encountered issues are considered and presented alongside methods for their solutions.

Nanopore Electrochemistry: A Nexus for Molecular Control of Electron Transfer Reactions

Pore-based structures occur widely in living organisms. Ion channels embedded in cell membranes, for example, provide pathways, where electron and proton transfer are coupled to the exchange of vital molecules. Learning from mother nature, a recent surge in activity has focused on artificial nanopore architectures to effect electrochemical transformations not accessible in larger structures. Here, we highlight these exciting advances. Starting with a brief overview of nanopore electrodes, including the early history and development of nanopore sensing based on nanopore-confined electrochemistry, we address the core concepts and special characteristics of nanopores in electron transfer. We describe nanopore-based electrochemical sensing and processing, discuss performance limits and challenges, and conclude with an outlook for next-generation nanopore electrode sensing platforms and the opportunities they present.

Real-time tracking of metal nucleation via local perturbation of hydration layers

The real-time visualization of stochastic nucleation events at electrode surfaces is one of the most complex challenges in electrochemical phase formation. The early stages of metal deposition on foreign substrates are characterized by a highly dynamic process in which nanoparticles nucleate and dissolve prior to reaching a critical size for deposition and growth. Here, high-speed non-contact lateral molecular force microscopy employing vertically oriented probes is utilized to explore the evolution of hydration layers at electrode surfaces with the unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution, and extremely low probe-surface interaction forces required to avoid disruption or shielding the critical nucleus formation. To the best of our knowledge, stochastic nucleation events of nanoscale copper deposits are visualized in real time for the first time and a highly dynamic topographic environment prior to the formation of critical nuclei is unveiled, featuring formation/re-dissolution of nuclei, two-dimensional aggregation and nuclei growth.

Electrochemical deposition is important for industrial processes however, tracking the early stages of metallic phase nucleation is challenging. Here, the authors visualize the birth and growth of metal nuclei at electrode surfaces in real time via high-speed non-contact lateral molecular force microscopy.

Redox Electrocatalysis of Floating Nanoparticles: Determining Electrocatalytic Properties without the Influence of Solid Supports

Redox electrocatalysis (catalysis of electron-transfer reactions by floating conductive particles) is discussed from the point-of-view of Fermi level equilibration, and an overall theoretical framework is given. Examples of redox electrocatalysis in solution, in bipolar configuration, and at liquid-liquid interfaces are provided, highlighting that bipolar and liquid-liquid interfacial systems allow the study of the electrocatalytic properties of particles without effects from the support, but only liquid-liquid interfaces allow measurement of the electrocatalytic current directly. Additionally, photoinduced redox electrocatalysis will be of interest, for example, to achieve water splitting.

Variation of the Fermi level and the electrostatic force of a metallic nanoparticle upon colliding with an electrode

When a metallic nanoparticle (NP) comes in close contact with an electrode, its Fermi level equilibrates with that of the electrode if their separation is less than the cut-off distance for electron tunnelling. In the absence of chemical reactions in solution, the charge on the metallic nanoparticle is constant outside this range before or after the collision. However, the double layer capacitances of both the electrode and the NP are influenced by each other, varying as the function of distance. Because the charge on the nanoparticle is constant, the outer potential of the metallic NP and hence its Fermi level varies as the capacitance changes. This effect is more pronounced for small particles (<10 nm) in diluted supporting electrolyte solutions, especially if the metallic nanoparticle and the electrode have different potentials of zero charge. Nanoparticles were found to be more electrochemically active in the vicinity of the electrode. For example, the outer potential of a positively-polarized 2 nm radius NP was predicted to decrease by 35 mV or 100 mV (depending on the electrostatic model used to describe the electric double layer), when the NP moved from an electrode at 1 V (vs. its pzc) to the bulk. The force between the equilibrated NP and the electrode is always repulsive when they have the same pzc. Otherwise there can be an attraction even when the NP and the electrode carry charges of the same sign, due to the redistibution of surface charge density at both the NP and electrode surface.

Advanced electroanalytical chemistry at nanoelectrodes

Nanoelectrodes, with dimensions below 100 nm, have the advantages of high sensitivity and high spatial resolution. These electrodes have attracted increasing attention in various fields such as single cell analysis, single-molecule detection, single particle characterization and high-resolution imaging. The rapid growth of novel nanoelectrodes and nanoelectrochemical methods brings enormous new opportunities in the field. In this perspective, we discuss the challenges, advances, and opportunities for nanoelectrode fabrication, real-time characterizations and high-performance electrochemical instrumentation.