A cost-efficient approach for simultaneous scanning electrochemical microscopy and scanning ion conductance microscopy

Abstract

A novel and cost-efficient probe fabrication method yielding probes for performing simultaneous scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) is presented. Coupling both techniques allows distinguishing topographical and electrochemical activity information obtained by SECM. Probes were prepared by deposition of photoresist onto platinum-coated, pulled fused silica capillaries, which resulted in a pipette probe with an integrated ring ultramicroelectrode. The fabricated probes were characterized by means of cyclic voltammetry and scanning electron microscopy. The applicability of probes was demonstrated by measuring and distinguishing topography and electrochemical activity of a model substrate. In addition, porous boron-doped diamond samples were investigated via simultaneously performed SECM and SICM.

Recent Advances in the Glass Pipet: from Fundament to Applications

“…117 Pulled double-barrel glass capillaries with one barrel filled with pyrolytic carbon or single-barrel nanopipette probes with electrode material deposited around the orifice were employed for the fabrication of such probes. Wert et al 118 developed a fabrication method of SECM−SICM hybrid probes by the deposition of photoresist onto platinum-coated, pulled fused silica capillaries and investigated porous borondoped diamond samples via simultaneously performed SECM and SICM. The combination of liquid-phase scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) with SECM is another attractive method.…”

Simultaneous Scanning Ion Conductance and Electrochemical Microscopy in Lithium‐Ion Battery Research

“…Takahashi et al [23] evaluated the correlation of ion-concentration profile and surface topography changes on graphite electrodes with a SICM approach based on a lithium-coated copper electrode inside of the capillary. The simultaneous operation of SICM together with SECM was already accomplished in aqueous media, [24] but not yet in non-aqueous, carbonate-based solvents widely used in LIBs. Despite its attractiveness in mapping topographical information and ion-flux, SICM is still underrepresented in this field of research.…”