Probing Electrified Liquid-Solid Interfaces with Scanning Electron Microscopy
Hongxuan Guo1,2,3, Alexander Yulaev2,3, Evgheni Strelcov2,3
1SEU-FEI Nano-Pico Center, Key Laboratory of MEMS of Ministry of Education, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Electrical double layers play a key role in a variety of electrochemical systems. The mean free path of secondary electrons in aqueous solutions is on the order of a nanometer, making them suitable for probing ultrathin electrical double layers at solid-liquid electrolyte interfaces. Employing graphene as an electron-transparent electrode in a two-electrode electrochemical system, we show that the secondary electron yield of the graphene-liquid interface depends on the ionic strength and concentration of the electrolyte and the applied bias at the remote counter electrode. These observations have been related to polarization-induced changes in the potential distribution within the electrical double layer and demonstrate the feasibility of using scanning electron microscopy to examine and map electrified liquid-solid interfaces.
Related Concept Videos
Scanning Electron Microscopy
Fundamental Principles
Accelerated...
Overview of Microscopy Techniques
Preparation of Samples for Electron Microscopy
Interfacial Electrochemical Methods: Overview


