Variable Nanoelectrode at the Air/Water Interface by Hydrogel-Integrated Atomic Force Microscopy Electrochemical...

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Small electrodes offer advantages in various applications, but precise fabrication remains challenging.
• Existing methods lack the precision and throughput for reliable nanoelectrode development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a nanoelectrode with a controllable area using readily available tools.
• To address the limitations in precise and high-throughput fabrication of nanoelectrodes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a modified scanning ionic conductance microscopy system with set-point feedback current.
• Employed contact between a boron-doped diamond (BDD) tip and an agarose hydrogel for electrode formation.
• Investigated electroactive area modulation using finite element method and cyclic voltammetry in a redox-containing hydrogel.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated nanoelectrodes with controllable nanometer-sized areas.
• Demonstrated the modulation of the electroactive area of the BDD-coated nanoelectrode.
• Achieved simultaneous imaging of topography and electrochemical activity of embedded polymeric microparticles.

Conclusions:

• The developed nanoelectrode fabrication method offers precise control over electrode size.
• This technique overcomes previous challenges in high-throughput nanoelectrode production.
• The nanoelectrode is suitable for simultaneous topographic and electrochemical imaging in hydrogel environments.