Applications of Scanning Tunneling Microscopy to Electrochemistry

Abstract

The focus of research in the last year has been STM(Scanning Tunneling Microscopy) studies of electrode/solution interfaces. STM, and its derivatives (e.g. AFM, Atomic Force Microscopy) are the only surface analytic methods capable of yielding real-space, atomic resolution, electronic and structural maps of immersed electrode surfaces. To achieve this goal, in the previous contract period we have developed STM tip preparation methodologies that enable atomic resolution imaging of electrode surfaces in solutions containing high (0.1 M) concentrations of electro donor and acceptor species. These techniques have significantly extended the applicability of STM to electrochemical investigations. Recent STM investigations of electrochemical systems have focused on elucidating the structure of adsorbate monolayers and of single strands of conducting polymers. Recently we have also used these ultra small STM tips to perform measurements of very rapid heterogeneous electron transfer rate constants at electrodes as small as 1 nanometer in radius.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 29, 1990
Accession Number
ADA223566

Entities

People

  • Nathan S. Lewis

Organizations

  • California Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Biological Detection
  • California
  • Chemistry
  • Conductive Polymers
  • Contracts
  • Electrochemical Cells
  • Electrochemistry
  • Electrodes
  • Electron Transfer
  • Films
  • Graphitic Materials
  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • Measurement
  • Phase Transformations
  • Polymeric Films
  • Polymers
  • Semiconductors

Fields of Study

  • Chemistry

Readers

  • Electrochemical Engineering/ Fuel Cell Technologies
  • Nanoscale Plasmonic Nanotechnology

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Graphene
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster