Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy and Ultramicroelectrode Studies of the Electrochemistry of Single Molecules and Nanoparticles

德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校的艾伦·J·巴德教授得到了化学系化学测量和成像项目的支持，研究单个纳米粒子（尺寸低至4 nm，约为人类头发直径的1/250）的电极反应。这些研究利用非常小的（超微）电极以及在巴德实验室开发的扫描电化学显微镜（SECM）技术。该项目的中心目标是开发表征纳米颗粒的技术，并建立一种新的随机方法来研究电化学反应。 这些研究将有助于了解材料的电催化性能，这在能量转换装置（如燃料电池和太阳能系统）中很重要，并可为单分子或极低浓度水平的分析提供基础。 这些将是有用的，例如，在检测化学和生物战剂（CB）或生物物种，目前在血液中检测不到的水平。学生和博士后研究员将接受与能源研究，电合成和电分析相关的先进电化学技术的培训。通过电化学中心（CEC）在UT，一些推广活动进行，例如通过CEC网站的软件交流，大量的学生和博士后研究员参加的年度会议，定期由UT或访问教师粉笔会谈，并在CEC电化学仪器设备的SECM游客的培训。

Professor Allen J. Bard of the University of Texas at Austin is supported by the Chemical Measurement and Imaging program in the Chemistry Division to study electrode reactions of single nanoparticles (with dimensions down to 4 nm, or about 1/250th of the diameter of a human hair). These studies utilize very small (ultramicro) electrodes as well as the technique of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) that was developed in the Bard laboratories. The central aims of this project are to develop techniques to characterize nanoparticles and to establish a new stochastic approach to study electrochemical reactions. Such studies will be of value in understanding the electrocatalytic properties of materials, important in energy conversion devices (e.g. fuel cells and solar energy systems), and could provide the basis of analysis at the single molecule or very low concentration level. These would be useful, for example, in the detection of chemical and biological warfare (CB) agents or biological species that are present in blood at currently undetectable levels. Students and postdoctoral fellows will be trained in advanced electrochemical techniques with relevance to energy research, electrosynthesis and electroanalysis. Through the Center for Electrochemistry (CEC) at UT, a number of outreach activities are pursued, e.g. software exchange via the CEC website, an annual conference heavily attended by students and post doctoral fellows, periodic chalk talks by UT or visiting faculty, and training of visitors in SECM at the CEC electrochemical instrumentation facility.