1
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Mesa CA, Sachs M, Pastor E, Gauriot N, Merryweather AJ, Gomez-Gonzalez MA, Ignatyev K, Giménez S, Rao A, Durrant JR, Pandya R. Correlating activities and defects in (photo)electrocatalysts using in-situ multi-modal microscopic imaging. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3908. [PMID: 38724495 PMCID: PMC11082147 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47870-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Photo(electro)catalysts use sunlight to drive chemical reactions such as water splitting. A major factor limiting photocatalyst development is physicochemical heterogeneity which leads to spatially dependent reactivity. To link structure and function in such systems, simultaneous probing of the electrochemical environment at microscopic length scales and a broad range of timescales (ns to s) is required. Here, we address this challenge by developing and applying in-situ (optical) microscopies to map and correlate local electrochemical activity, with hole lifetimes, oxygen vacancy concentrations and photoelectrode crystal structure. Using this multi-modal approach, we study prototypical hematite (α-Fe2O3) photoelectrodes. We demonstrate that regions of α-Fe2O3, adjacent to microstructural cracks have a better photoelectrochemical response and reduced back electron recombination due to an optimal oxygen vacancy concentration, with the film thickness and extended light exposure also influencing local activity. Our work highlights the importance of microscopic mapping to understand activity, in even seemingly homogeneous photoelectrodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilo A Mesa
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Processable Electronics, Imperial College London, London, W12 0BZ, United Kingdom
- Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM) Universitat Jaume I, 12006, Castelló, Spain
- Sociedad de Doctores e Investigadores de Colombia, Grupo de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencia Tecnología e Innovación - BioGRID, Bogotá, 111011, Colombia
- Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, UAB Campus, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Michael Sachs
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Processable Electronics, Imperial College London, London, W12 0BZ, United Kingdom
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, USA
- PULSE Institute, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ernest Pastor
- Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM) Universitat Jaume I, 12006, Castelló, Spain
- CNRS, Univ Rennes, IPR (Institut de Physique de Rennes) - UMR 6251, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Nicolas Gauriot
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J.J. Thomson Avenue, CB3 0HE, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alice J Merryweather
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J.J. Thomson Avenue, CB3 0HE, Cambridge, UK
| | - Miguel A Gomez-Gonzalez
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Konstantin Ignatyev
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Sixto Giménez
- Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM) Universitat Jaume I, 12006, Castelló, Spain
| | - Akshay Rao
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J.J. Thomson Avenue, CB3 0HE, Cambridge, UK
| | - James R Durrant
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Processable Electronics, Imperial College London, London, W12 0BZ, United Kingdom
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 7AX, United Kingdom
| | - Raj Pandya
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J.J. Thomson Avenue, CB3 0HE, Cambridge, UK.
- Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, ENS-Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Collège de France, 24 rue Lhomond, 75005, Paris, France.
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom.
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2
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Lai Z, Liu M, Bi P, Huang F, Jin Y. Perspectives on Corrosion Studies Using Scanning Electrochemical Cell Microscopy: Challenges and Opportunities. Anal Chem 2023; 95:15833-15850. [PMID: 37844123 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c02423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM) allows for electrochemical imaging at the micro- or nanoscale by confining the electrochemical reaction cell in a small meniscus formed at the end of a micro- or nanopipette. This technique has gained popularity in electrochemical imaging due to its high-throughput nature. Although it shows considerable application potential in corrosion science, there are still formidable and exciting challenges to be faced, particularly relating to the high-throughput characterization and analysis of microelectrochemical big data. The objective of this perspective is to arouse attention and provide opinions on the challenges, recent progress, and future prospects of the SECCM technique to the electrochemical society, particularly from the viewpoint of corrosion scientists. Specifically, four main topics are systematically reviewed and discussed: (1) the development of SECCM; (2) the applications of SECCM for corrosion studies; (3) the challenges of SECCM in corrosion studies; and (4) the opportunities of SECCM for corrosion science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaogui Lai
- National Center for Materials Service Safety, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 102206, P. R. China
| | - Min Liu
- New Materials Institute, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo 315100, P. R. China
| | - Peng Bi
- Laboratory for Nuclear Materials, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Feifei Huang
- National Center for Materials Service Safety, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 102206, P. R. China
| | - Ying Jin
- National Center for Materials Service Safety, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 102206, P. R. China
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3
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Sun X, Liu S, Hu P, Sun S, Xie Z, Hu G, Hu D, Zhang M. Microscale Corrosion Inhibition Behavior of Four Corrosion Inhibitors (BTA, MBI, MBT, and MBO) on Archeological Silver Artifacts Based on Scanning Electrochemical Cell Microscopy. Anal Chem 2023; 95:14686-14694. [PMID: 37713524 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c02704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
The problem of corrosion-induced discoloration and embrittlement in silverware is a significant concern for the long-term preservation of excavated archeological silver artifacts, even after thermal restoration. The key to addressing this issue lies in the meticulous selection and evaluation of corrosion inhibitors that possess targeted corrosion inhibition capabilities. This study focuses on the evaluation of corrosion inhibitors for archeological silver artifacts using scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The researchers aimed to compare the inhibition effects of four corrosion inhibitors [1,2,3-benzotriazole (BTA), 2-mercaptobenzimidazole (MBI), 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT), and 2-mercaptobenzoxazole (MBO)] on a simulated Ag-Cu alloy sample and understand their mechanisms. The results showed that MBT exhibited better corrosion inhibition for microstructural regions with higher silver content due to its ability to form stable chelation structures with Ag(I). MBO exhibited better corrosion inhibition for microstructural regions with higher copper content due to its strong affinity with Cu(I). The targeted corrosion inhibition ability for the β-phase was ranked as MBO > BTA ≈ MBI > MBT, while for the α-phase the ranking was MBT > MBO > MBI > BTA. The study demonstrated the feasibility and capabilities of SECCM in the targeted screening of corrosion inhibitors for different compositions and microstructural regions in archeological metal artifacts. This study highlights the potential of SECCM in corrosion inhibitor research for archeological metal artifacts and wider applications in metal material corrosion protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Sun
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Bioengineering and Sensing Technology, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Shengyu Liu
- The International Center for Chinese Heritage and Archaeology, Key Laboratory of Archaeological Science, Ministry of Education, School of Archaeology and Museology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Pei Hu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100020, China
- Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Siyuan Sun
- The International Center for Chinese Heritage and Archaeology, Key Laboratory of Archaeological Science, Ministry of Education, School of Archaeology and Museology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Zhenda Xie
- Institute for Advanced Study, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Gang Hu
- The International Center for Chinese Heritage and Archaeology, Key Laboratory of Archaeological Science, Ministry of Education, School of Archaeology and Museology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Dongbo Hu
- The International Center for Chinese Heritage and Archaeology, Key Laboratory of Archaeological Science, Ministry of Education, School of Archaeology and Museology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Meiqin Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Bioengineering and Sensing Technology, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
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4
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Santana Santos C, Jaato BN, Sanjuán I, Schuhmann W, Andronescu C. Operando Scanning Electrochemical Probe Microscopy during Electrocatalysis. Chem Rev 2023; 123:4972-5019. [PMID: 36972701 PMCID: PMC10168669 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Scanning electrochemical probe microscopy (SEPM) techniques can disclose the local electrochemical reactivity of interfaces in single-entity and sub-entity studies. Operando SEPM measurements consist of using a SEPM tip to investigate the performance of electrocatalysts, while the reactivity of the interface is simultaneously modulated. This powerful combination can correlate electrochemical activity with changes in surface properties, e.g., topography and structure, as well as provide insight into reaction mechanisms. The focus of this review is to reveal the recent progress in local SEPM measurements of the catalytic activity of a surface toward the reduction and evolution of O2 and H2 and electrochemical conversion of CO2. The capabilities of SEPMs are showcased, and the possibility of coupling other techniques to SEPMs is presented. Emphasis is given to scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM), electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (EC-STM), and scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Santana Santos
- Analytical Chemistry - Center for Electrochemical Sciences (CES), Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, D-44780 Bochum, Germany
| | - Bright Nsolebna Jaato
- Technical Chemistry III, Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen Carl-Benz-Straße 199, 47057 Duisburg, Germany
| | - Ignacio Sanjuán
- Technical Chemistry III, Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen Carl-Benz-Straße 199, 47057 Duisburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Schuhmann
- Analytical Chemistry - Center for Electrochemical Sciences (CES), Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, D-44780 Bochum, Germany
| | - Corina Andronescu
- Technical Chemistry III, Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen Carl-Benz-Straße 199, 47057 Duisburg, Germany
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5
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Bentley CL, Gaudin LF, Kang M. Direct electrochemical identification of rare microscopic catalytic active sites. Chem Commun (Camb) 2023; 59:2287-2290. [PMID: 36744442 DOI: 10.1039/d2cc06316f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Local voltammetric analysis with a scanning electrochemical droplet cell technique, in combination with a new data processing protocol (termed data binning and trinisation), is used to directly identify previously unseen regions of elevated electrocatalytic activity on the basal plane (BP) of molybdenum disulfide (2H-MoS2). This includes BP-like structures with hydrogen evolution reaction activities approaching that of the edge plane and rare nanoscale electrocatalytic "hot-spots" present at an areal density of approximately 0.2-1 μm-2. Understanding the nature of (sub)microscopic catalytic active sites, such as those identified herein, is crucial to guide the rational design of next-generation earth-abundant materials for renewable fuels production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron L Bentley
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
| | - Lachlan F Gaudin
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
| | - Minkyung Kang
- Institute for Frontier Materials Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia
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6
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Limani N, Batsa Tetteh E, Kim M, Quast T, Scorsone E, Jousselme B, Schuhmann W, Cornut R. Scrutinizing Intrinsic Oxygen Reduction Reaction Activity of a Fe−N−C Catalyst via Scanning Electrochemical Cell Microscopy. ChemElectroChem 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/celc.202201095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ndrina Limani
- Universite Paris-Saclay CEA, CNRS, NIMBE, LICSEN Gif-sur-Yvette 91191 France
- Analytical Chemistry-Center for Electrochemical Sciences (CES) Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry Ruhr University Bochum Universitätsstraße 150 Bochum Germany
| | - Emmanuel Batsa Tetteh
- Analytical Chemistry-Center for Electrochemical Sciences (CES) Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry Ruhr University Bochum Universitätsstraße 150 Bochum Germany
| | - Moonjoo Kim
- Analytical Chemistry-Center for Electrochemical Sciences (CES) Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry Ruhr University Bochum Universitätsstraße 150 Bochum Germany
- Department of Chemistry Seoul National University Seoul 08826 Republic of Korea
| | - Thomas Quast
- Analytical Chemistry-Center for Electrochemical Sciences (CES) Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry Ruhr University Bochum Universitätsstraße 150 Bochum Germany
| | | | - Bruno Jousselme
- Universite Paris-Saclay CEA, CNRS, NIMBE, LICSEN Gif-sur-Yvette 91191 France
| | - Wolfgang Schuhmann
- Analytical Chemistry-Center for Electrochemical Sciences (CES) Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry Ruhr University Bochum Universitätsstraße 150 Bochum Germany
| | - Renaud Cornut
- Universite Paris-Saclay CEA, CNRS, NIMBE, LICSEN Gif-sur-Yvette 91191 France
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7
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Bernal M, Torres D, Parapari SS, Čeh M, Rožman KŽ, Šturm S, Ustarroz J. A microscopic view on the electrochemical deposition and dissolution of Au with Scanning Electrochemical Cell Microscopy – Part I. Electrochim Acta 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2023.142023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
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8
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Xu X, Valavanis D, Ciocci P, Confederat S, Marcuccio F, Lemineur JF, Actis P, Kanoufi F, Unwin PR. The New Era of High-Throughput Nanoelectrochemistry. Anal Chem 2023; 95:319-356. [PMID: 36625121 PMCID: PMC9835065 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c05105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiangdong Xu
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
| | | | - Paolo Ciocci
- Université
Paris Cité, ITODYS, CNRS, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Samuel Confederat
- School
of Electronic and Electrical Engineering and Pollard Institute, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.,Bragg
Centre for Materials Research, University
of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.
| | - Fabio Marcuccio
- School
of Electronic and Electrical Engineering and Pollard Institute, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.,Bragg
Centre for Materials Research, University
of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.,Faculty
of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | | | - Paolo Actis
- School
of Electronic and Electrical Engineering and Pollard Institute, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.,Bragg
Centre for Materials Research, University
of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.,
| | | | - Patrick R. Unwin
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.,
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9
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Scanning gel electrochemical microscopy: Combination with quartz crystal microbalance for studying the electrolyte residue. Electrochim Acta 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2022.141455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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10
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Yang F, Jin R, Jiang D. High spatial resolution imaging of the charge injection yield at hematite using scanning electrochemical cell microscopy. Electrochem commun 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.elecom.2022.107358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
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11
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Wahab O, Kang M, Meloni GN, Daviddi E, Unwin PR. Nanoscale Visualization of Electrochemical Activity at Indium Tin Oxide Electrodes. Anal Chem 2022; 94:4729-4736. [PMID: 35255211 PMCID: PMC9007413 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c05168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Indium tin oxide (ITO) is a popular electrode choice, with diverse applications in (photo)electrocatalysis, organic photovoltaics, spectroelectrochemistry and sensing, and as a support for cell biology studies. Although ITO surfaces exhibit heterogeneous local electrical conductivity, little is known as to how this translates to electrochemistry at the same scale. This work investigates nanoscale electrochemistry at ITO electrodes using high-resolution scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM). The nominally fast outer-sphere one-electron oxidation of 1,1'-ferrocenedimethanol (FcDM) is used as an electron transfer (ET) kinetic marker to reveal the charge transfer properties of the ITO/electrolyte interface. SECCM measures spatially resolved linear sweep voltammetry at an array of points across the ITO surface, with the topography measured synchronously. Presentation of SECCM data as current maps as a function of potential reveals that, while the entire surface of ITO is electroactive, the ET activity is highly spatially heterogeneous. Kinetic parameters (standard rate constant, k0, and transfer coefficient, α) for FcDM0/+ are assigned from 7200 measurements at sites across the ITO surface using finite element method modeling. Differences of 3 orders of magnitude in k0 are revealed, and the average k0 is about 20 times larger than that measured at the macroscale. This is attributed to macroscale ET being largely limited by lateral conductivity of the ITO electrode under electrochemical operation, rather than ET kinetics at the ITO/electrolyte interface, as measured by SECCM. This study further demonstrates the considerable power of SECCM for direct nanoscale characterization of electrochemical processes at complex electrode surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwasegun
J. Wahab
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Minkyung Kang
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
- Institute
for Frontier Materials Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia
| | - Gabriel N. Meloni
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Enrico Daviddi
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick R. Unwin
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
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12
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Jin R, Lu HY, Cheng L, Zhuang J, Jiang D, Chen HY. Highly spatial imaging of electrochemical activity on the wrinkles of graphene using all-solid scanning electrochemical cell microscopy. FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fmre.2021.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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13
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Tetteh EB, Banko L, Krysiak OA, Löffler T, Xiao B, Varhade S, Schumacher S, Savan A, Andronescu C, Ludwig A, Schuhmann W. Zooming‐in – Visualization of active site heterogeneity in high entropy alloy electrocatalysts using scanning electrochemical cell microscopy. ELECTROCHEMICAL SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/elsa.202100105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Batsa Tetteh
- Analytical Chemistry – Center for Electrochemical Sciences (CES), Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry Ruhr University Bochum Universitätsstraße 150 Bochum Germany
| | - Lars Banko
- Chair for Materials Discovery and Interfaces, Institute for Materials Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Ruhr University Bochum Universitätsstraße 150 Bochum Germany
| | - Olga A. Krysiak
- Analytical Chemistry – Center for Electrochemical Sciences (CES), Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry Ruhr University Bochum Universitätsstraße 150 Bochum Germany
| | - Tobias Löffler
- Analytical Chemistry – Center for Electrochemical Sciences (CES), Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry Ruhr University Bochum Universitätsstraße 150 Bochum Germany
- Chair for Materials Discovery and Interfaces, Institute for Materials Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Ruhr University Bochum Universitätsstraße 150 Bochum Germany
- ZGH Ruhr University Bochum Universitätsstraße 150 Bochum Germany
| | - Bin Xiao
- Chair for Materials Discovery and Interfaces, Institute for Materials Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Ruhr University Bochum Universitätsstraße 150 Bochum Germany
| | - Swapnil Varhade
- Analytical Chemistry – Center for Electrochemical Sciences (CES), Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry Ruhr University Bochum Universitätsstraße 150 Bochum Germany
| | - Simon Schumacher
- Technical Chemistry III and CENIDE Center for Nanointegration Faculty of Chemistry University of Duisburg‐Essen Carl‐Benz‐Straße 199 Duisburg Germany
| | - Alan Savan
- Chair for Materials Discovery and Interfaces, Institute for Materials Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Ruhr University Bochum Universitätsstraße 150 Bochum Germany
| | - Corina Andronescu
- Technical Chemistry III and CENIDE Center for Nanointegration Faculty of Chemistry University of Duisburg‐Essen Carl‐Benz‐Straße 199 Duisburg Germany
| | - Alfred Ludwig
- Chair for Materials Discovery and Interfaces, Institute for Materials Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Ruhr University Bochum Universitätsstraße 150 Bochum Germany
- ZGH Ruhr University Bochum Universitätsstraße 150 Bochum Germany
| | - Wolfgang Schuhmann
- Analytical Chemistry – Center for Electrochemical Sciences (CES), Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry Ruhr University Bochum Universitätsstraße 150 Bochum Germany
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14
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Bentley CL. Scanning electrochemical cell microscopy for the study of (nano)particle electrochemistry: From the sub‐particle to ensemble level. ELECTROCHEMICAL SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/elsa.202100081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
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15
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Hill JW, Hill CM. Directly visualizing carrier transport and recombination at individual defects within 2D semiconductors. Chem Sci 2021; 12:5102-5112. [PMID: 34163749 PMCID: PMC8179556 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc07033e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Two-dimensional semiconductors (2DSCs) are promising materials for a wide range of optoelectronic applications. While the fabrication of 2DSCs with thicknesses down to the monolayer limit has been demonstrated through a variety of routes, a robust understanding of carrier transport within these materials is needed to guide the rational design of improved practical devices. In particular, the influence of different types of structural defects on transport is critical, but difficult to interrogate experimentally. Here, a new approach to visualizing carrier transport within 2DSCs, Carrier Generation-Tip Collection Scanning Electrochemical Cell Microscopy (CG-TC SECCM), is described which is capable of providing information at the single-defect level. In this approach, carriers are locally generated within a material using a focused light source and detected as they drive photoelectrochemical reactions at a spatially-offset electrolyte interface created through contact with a pipet-based probe, allowing carrier transport across well-defined, µm-scale paths within a material to be directly interrogated. The efficacy of this approach is demonstrated through studies of minority carrier transport within mechanically-exfoliated n-type WSe2 nanosheets. CG-TC SECCM imaging experiments carried out within pristine basal planes revealed highly anisotropic hole transport, with in-plane and out-of-plane hole diffusion lengths of 2.8 µm and 5.8 nm, respectively. Experiments were also carried out to probe recombination across individual step edge defects within n-WSe2 which suggest a significant surface charge (∼5 mC m-2) exists at these defects, significantly influencing carrier transport. Together, these studies demonstrate a powerful new approach to visualizing carrier transport and recombination within 2DSCs, down to the single-defect level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua W Hill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wyoming, 1000 E University Ave Laramie WY 82071 USA
| | - Caleb M Hill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wyoming, 1000 E University Ave Laramie WY 82071 USA
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