Advanced scanning electrochemical microscope system for high-resolution imaging and electrochemical applications

Abstract

We developed three modes of high resolution scanning probe microscope system based on electrochemical principles, scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM), scanning electrochemical microscopy-scanning ion conductance microscopy (SECM-SICM), and scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM). Firstly, a developed SICM system was constructed with a nanopipette filled with electrolyte solution as a probe. High resolution topographic images of NanoCulture®Plate with hexagonal chambers with 2 μm-width banks, electrodeposited PEDOT (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophane)) film, and fixed human squamous cell carcinoma were captured by the SICM. Second, SECM-SICM was performed with a double-barrel carbon nanoprobe. The one barrel of the nanoprobe was filled with carbon and used for SECM apparatus, the other barrel was filled with electrolyte for SICM configurations. Using the SECM-SICM system, simultaneous topographic and electrochemical images of micro-band electrodes with 10 μm-width line and space, and a cathode site of corrosion in the aluminum die gusto with submicron spatial resolution were obtained. Thirdly, the SECCM featuring a nanopipette probe filled with LiCl electrolyte was applied for obtaining topographies and images of current activity of a LiFePO4 electrode.