Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Probing Surface Electrochemical Activity of Nanomaterials using a Hybrid Atomic Force Microscope-Scanning Electrochemical Microscope (AFM-SECM)
Published on: February 10, 2021
Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) as a tool in biosensor research
Leonard Stoica1, Sebastian Neugebauer, Wolfgang Schuhmann
1Analytische Chemie - Elektroanalytik & Sensorik, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, D-44780 Bochum, Germany.
Abstract:
Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) is discussed as a versatile tool to provide localized (electro)chemical information in the context of biosensor research. Advantages of localized electrochemical measurements will be discussed and a brief introduction to SECM and its operation modes will be given. Experimental challenges of the different detection modes of SECM and its applicability for different fields in biosensor research are discussed. Among these are the evaluation of immobilization techniques by probing the local distribution of biological activity, the visualization of diffusion profiles of reactants, cofactors, mediators, and products, and the elucidation of (local) kinetic parameters. The combination of SECM with other scanning-probe techniques allows to maximize the information on a given biosensing system. The potential of SECM as a tool in micro-fabrication aiming for the fabrication of microstructured biosensors will be shortly discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Scanning Electron Microscopy
Fundamental Principles
Accelerated...
Capillary Electrophoresis: Applications
Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) separates ionic components based on their electrophoretic mobility. It has been used to separate proteins, amino acids,...
Preparation of Samples for Electron Microscopy
Microbial Biosensors
Overview of Microscopy Techniques
Immunogold Electron Microscopy

