Methodology of Atomic Force Microscopy Visualization of Electrode–Electrolyte Interfaces

Reese, Austin J. [Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (United States)]; Suntivich, Jin [Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (United States)] (ORCID:0000000234274363)

doi:10.1021/acs.jpcc.4c08291

DOE OSTI · 2864435

Methodology of Atomic Force Microscopy Visualization of Electrode–Electrolyte Interfaces

Reese, Austin J. [Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (United States)]·Suntivich, Jin [Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (United States)] (ORCID:0000000234274363)

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Abstract

Electrochemical atomic force microscopy (EC-AFM) provides unprecedented insights into the microstructure of electrode–electrolyte interfaces during electrochemical reactions. However, performing EC-AFM measurements has many challenges, for example, drift, contamination, and probe degradation. We present solutions to these experimental issues through electrochemical cell design and carefully chosen experimental parameters. The possibility that the probes can react with the interface during scanning, generating false-positive electrochemical dynamics, is discussed as an example of the challenge of high-fidelity EC-AFM measurement. Here, we demonstrate this effect in highly ordered pyrolytic graphite and show that we could use electrochemical control of the AFM probe to enable high-fidelity in situ AFM visualization of solid–liquid interfaces during electrochemical reactions.

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Electrochemical cells Electrochemistry Electrolytes Oxidation Probes

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BibTeX RIS

Reese, Austin J. [Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (United States)], Suntivich, Jin [Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (United States)] (ORCID:0000000234274363). 2025-02-02. Methodology of Atomic Force Microscopy Visualization of Electrode–Electrolyte Interfaces. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.4c08291

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