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Potential-sensing electrochemical atomic force microscopy for in operando analysis of water-splitting catalysts and interfaces

Author

Listed:
  • Michael R. Nellist

    (University of Oregon)

  • Forrest A. L. Laskowski

    (University of Oregon)

  • Jingjing Qiu

    (University of Oregon)

  • Hamed Hajibabaei

    (Michigan State University)

  • Kevin Sivula

    (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL))

  • Thomas W. Hamann

    (Michigan State University)

  • Shannon W. Boettcher

    (University of Oregon)

Abstract

Heterogeneous electrochemical phenomena, such as (photo)electrochemical water splitting to generate hydrogen using semiconductors and/or electrocatalysts, are driven by the accumulated charge carriers and thus the interfacial electrochemical potential gradients that promote charge transfer. However, measurements of the “surface” electrochemical potential during operation are not generally possible using conventional electrochemical techniques, which measure/control the potential of a conducting electrode substrate. Here we show that the nanoscale conducting tip of an atomic force microscope cantilever can sense the surface electrochemical potential of electrocatalysts in operando. To demonstrate utility, we measure the potential-dependent and thickness-dependent electronic properties of cobalt (oxy)hydroxide phosphate (CoPi). We then show that CoPi, when deposited on illuminated haematite (α-Fe2O3) photoelectrodes, acts as both a hole collector and an oxygen evolution catalyst. We demonstrate the versatility of the technique by comparing surface potentials of CoPi-decorated planar and mesoporous haematite and discuss viability for broader application in the study of electrochemical phenomena.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael R. Nellist & Forrest A. L. Laskowski & Jingjing Qiu & Hamed Hajibabaei & Kevin Sivula & Thomas W. Hamann & Shannon W. Boettcher, 2018. "Potential-sensing electrochemical atomic force microscopy for in operando analysis of water-splitting catalysts and interfaces," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 3(1), pages 46-52, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:3:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41560-017-0048-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41560-017-0048-1
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    Cited by:

    1. Kosuke Yasuji & Tomo Sakanoue & Fumihiro Yonekawa & Katsuichi Kanemoto, 2023. "Visualizing electroluminescence process in light-emitting electrochemical cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Tian Liu & Zhenhua Pan & Kosaku Kato & Junie Jhon M. Vequizo & Rito Yanagi & Xiaoshan Zheng & Weilai Yu & Akira Yamakata & Baoliang Chen & Shu Hu & Kenji Katayama & Chiheng Chu, 2022. "A general interfacial-energetics-tuning strategy for enhanced artificial photosynthesis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.

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