AFM for in-situ electrochemical studies

Agilent 5500 AFM.

This instrument operates in air, in a purged atmosphere, humid environments as well as in liquid and electrochemical conditions.

A range of options are available and these include:

• AFM head: 90 micron scanner, contact, tapping mode and MAC mode
• Electrochemical cell and environment chamber

Imaging of well defined Au surfaces can be accomplished using Au single crystal beads that show 111 facets. The difference in the topography is one Au layer, or ~ 0.2 nm high.

AFM (tapping mode) of Au(111) facet on Au bead electrode

• AFM was used in an electrochemical environment to look at the potential controlled liposome interaction with an octadecanol coated Au surface in an attempt to create a Solid Supported Bilayer.

New features are created when the potential is changed so as to create defects in the adsorbed layer on the Au(111) surface (-0.5V). The new features are 2 nm higher and grow only when the potential is negative.

Potential-Dependent Interaction of DOPC Liposomes with an Octadecanol-Covered Au(111) Surface Investigated Using Electrochemical Methods Coupled with in Situ Fluorescence Microscopy.

• AFM measurements in air was used characterize protein adsorption onto a Au(111) facet:

Correlating Structural Assemblies of Photosynthetic Reaction Centers on a Gold Electrode and the Photocurrent – Potential Response

• characterize the formation of ERGO on gold

AFM and Cu Electrodeposition Studies of Reduced Graphene Oxide Modified Au(111) Facets Prepared Using Electrodeposition and Post-Deposition Pulse Treatment.