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Utilizing the surface potential of a solid electrolyte region as the potential reference in Kelvin probe force
1National Institute for Materials Science, Sengen 1-2-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan.
Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology
|January 11, 2023
Summary
In electrochemical measurements, Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) can use the electrolyte
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Surface Science
- Microscopy Techniques
Background:
- Electrochemical measurements require stable reference potentials for controlling redox reactions.
- Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) on electrochemical cells typically measures surface potential relative to ground, not a stable reference.
- This lack of a stable reference in KPFM hinders accurate analysis of electrochemical processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the use of the electrolyte surface potential as a stable reference in KPFM.
- To correlate KPFM surface potential changes with electrode potential changes in electrochemical cells.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) to measure surface potential changes.
- Employed a voltmeter to measure electrode potential relative to a standard reference electrode.
- Compared KPFM measurements relative to the electrolyte surface potential with voltmeter measurements.
Main Results:
- Changes in surface potential measured by KPFM relative to the electrolyte surface potential closely matched changes in electrode potential measured by a voltmeter.
- Demonstrated a direct correlation between KPFM surface potential and electrochemical electrode potential.
Conclusions:
- The surface potential within the electrolyte region serves as a viable and stable potential reference for KPFM analysis.
- This finding provides a method for more accurate surface potential measurements in electrochemical KPFM studies.
- Enables better understanding and control of redox reactions at electrode surfaces.
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