Electrochemistry, Spectroscopy and Microscopy for Interdisciplinary Research

这个多学科的建议涉及生物，材料，物理和分析化学，基于我们的研究工具和在西方建立的专业知识。我们打算将扫描电化学显微镜（SECM）、电化学发光（ECL）、双极电极（BPE）微流控、共焦拉曼显微光谱和离子液体（IL）应用于三个具有巨大应用潜力的新研究领域： 1. 活细胞和金属材料的SECM。SECM将测量和成像活性氧（ROS）的细胞功能障碍和药物分子的刺激。ROS参与几乎所有细胞和组织中的生物活性。我们还将使用SECM来非侵入性地构建许多金属材料的晶粒组织，例如用于制造汽车的热冲压的Zn、Ni电镀高强度钢。我们将把结构与它们的反应性联系起来，以进一步提高产品的质量与成本比。预计将在分析仪器和纳米探针制造方面取得进展。 2. ECL微流体。我们将首次将BPE集成到微流体装置中，以测量与ECL强度成比例的细胞ROS浓度。新的ECL方案类似于流式细胞术，但它是无创的，因为细胞外ROS的测量，并具有更高的灵敏度，因为没有引入干扰光源。预期临床应用和实用装置。 3. 我们的疏水性和低成本离子液体将被评估为锂电池和双电层电池的电解质以及用于锂电极电沉积的介质。这将有助于制造更环保、更安全的储能设备。我们的离子液体也将被用作敏感的离子选择性电极膜的主要成分。 所有这些研究活动将为高质量的人才培养，包括本科生和研究生提供极好的机会。这项研究将对加拿大的人口健康、日常生活、能源和环境做出积极贡献。

This multidisciplinary proposal involves biological, materials, physical and analytical chemistries, based on our research tools and expertise established at Western. We intend to apply scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), electrochemiluminescence (ECL), bipolar electrode (BPE) microfluidics, confocal Raman microspectroscopy, and ionic liquids (ILs) to three new research fields with great application potentials: 1. SECM of live cells and metallic materials. SECM will measure and image reactive oxygen species (ROS) for cell dysfunctions and stimulations by drug molecules. ROS are involved in biological activity in virtually all cells and tissues. We will also use SECM to non-invasively construct grain microstructures of many metallic materials such as Zn, Ni electroplated high strength steels for hot-stamping in manufacturing automobiles. We will correlate the structures to their reactivity for further enhancing product quality to cost ratios. Progresses in analytical instrumentation and nano probe fabrication will be anticipated. 2. ECL microfluidics. For the first time, we will integrate a BPE inside a microfluidic device to measure the cellular ROS concentration that is proportional to ECL intensity. The novel ECL protocol is similar to flow cytometry, but it is no-invasive since extracellular ROS are measured, and has much higher sensitivity because no interference light source is introduced. Clinic applications and practical devices are anticipated. 3. Our hydrophobic and low-cost ILs will be assessed to be electrolytes in Li batteries and electric double layer cells as well as media for electrodeposition of Li electrodes. This will facilitate the fabrication of greener and safer energy storage devices. Our ILs will also be utilized as the main component in membranes of sensitive ion-selective electrodes. All of these research activities will provide excellent opportunities for high quality personnel training, including undergraduate and graduate students. This research will contribute positively to population health, daily life, energy resources and environment in Canada.