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Allen J.Bard教授得到化学系化学测量和成像计划的支持，研究单个纳米粒子(尺寸降至4纳米，约为人类头发直径的1/250)的电极反应。这些研究利用了非常小的(超微)电极以及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。这类研究将有助于理解在能量转换设备(如燃料电池和太阳能系统)中非常重要的材料的电催化性能，并可为单分子或极低浓度水平的分析提供基础。例如，在检测血液中目前无法检测到的化学和生物战剂(CB)或生物物种时，这些方法将是有用的。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方面的培训。通过德州大学电化学中心(CEC)，开展了一系列外联活动，例如通过CEC网站进行软件交流，学生和博士后研究员大量参加的年度会议，德州大学或客座教师的定期粉笔讲座，以及在CEC电化学仪器设施对参观者进行SECM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.