Scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM) is used to map anodic and cathodic processes on polycrystalline zinc in 10 mM H2SO4, at the nanoscale. Electrochemical maps are correlated directly with structural data from electron backscatter diffraction applied to the same regions of the surface, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations are used to rationalize the data. Preliminary data on droplet stability with SECCM point measurements indicated that there was a significant spreading of the meniscus cell with an air atmosphere, attributed to changes in pH during the oxygen reduction reaction, compromising the lateral resolution of the SECCM measurement. Experiments with an argon atmosphere, as well as the application of a hydrophobic n-dodecane oil layer on the Zn interface, prevented spreading. Electrochemical maps of polycrystalline Zn surface under an Ar atmosphere indicated that the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and Zn electrodissolution on individual low-index grains decreased in the order 1 ¯ 2 1 ¯ 0 ≥ 01 1 ¯ 0 > 0001 . DFT calculations revealed a correlation between experimental values of current associated with HER and Zn dissolution reactions and the predicted hydrogen adsorption and Zn dissolution energies on individual facets, respectively. This work further advances SECCM as a technique for probing electrified interfaces and demonstrates its applicability to reactive metals.

Probing Cu corrosion in an aqueous nanodroplet/oil/metal three-phase environment revealed unique patterns of surface reactivity. The electrochemistry of high-index facets cannot be predicted simply from the low-index {001}, {011} and {111} responses.

The redox activity (Li‐ion intercalation/deintercalation) of a series of individual LiMn2O4 particles of known geometry and (nano)structure, within an array, is determined using a correlative electrochemical microscopy strategy. Cyclic voltammetry (current–voltage curve, I–E) and galvanostatic charge/discharge (voltage–time curve, E–t) are applied at the single particle level, using scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM), together with co‐location scanning electron microscopy that enables the corresponding particle size, morphology, crystallinity, and other factors to be visualized. This study identifies a wide spectrum of activity of nominally similar particles and highlights how subtle changes in particle form can greatly impact electrochemical properties. SECCM is well‐suited for assessing single particles and constitutes a combinatorial method that will enable the rational design and optimization of battery electrode materials.

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Scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM) has been applied for nanoscale (electro)activity mapping in a range of electrochemical systems but so far has almost exclusively been performed in controlled-potential (amperometric/voltammetric) modes. Herein, we consider the use of SECCM operated in a controlled-current (galvanostatic or chronopotentiometric) mode, to synchronously obtain spatially resolved electrode potential (i.e., electrochemical activity) and topographical "maps". This technique is first applied, as proof of concept, to study the electrochemically reversible [Ru-(NH 3 ) 6 ] 3+/2+ electron transfer process at a glassy carbon electrode surface, where the experimental data are in good agreement with well-established chronopotentiometric theory under quasi-radial diffusion conditions. The [Ru(NH 3 ) 6 ] 3+/2+ process has also been imaged at "aged" highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), where apparently enhanced electrochemical activity is measured at the edge plane relative to the basal plane surface, consistent with potentiostatic measurements. Finally, chronopotentiometric SECCM has been employed to benchmark a promising electrocatalytic system, the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ), where higher electrocatalytic activity (i.e., lower overpotential at a current density of 2 mA cm −2 ) is observed at the edge plane compared to the basal plane surface. These results are in excellent agreement with previous controlled-potential SECCM studies, confirming the viability of the technique and thereby opening up new possibilities for the use of chronopotentiometric methods for quantitative electroanalysis at the nanoscale, with promising applications in energy storage (battery) studies, electrocatalyst benchmarking, and corrosion research.

Understanding how crystallographic orientation influences the electrocatalytic performance of metal catalysts can potentially advance the design of catalysts with improved efficiency. Although single crystal electrodes are typically used for such studies, the one-at-a-time preparation procedure limits the range of secondary crystallographic orientations that can be profiled. This work employs scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM) together with co-located electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) as a screening technique to investigate how surface crystallographic orientations on polycrystalline copper (Cu) correlate to activity under CO 2 electroreduction conditions. SECCM measures spatially resolved voltammetry on polycrystalline copper covering low overpotentials of CO 2 conversion to intermediates, thereby screening the different activity from low-index facets where H 2 evolution is dominant to high-index facets where more reaction intermediates are expected. This approach allows the acquisition of 2500 voltammograms on approximately 60 different Cu surface facets identified with EBSD. The results show that the order of activity is (111) < (100) < (110) among the Cu primary orientations. The collection of data over a wide range of secondary orientations leads to the construction of an “electrochemical–crystallographic stereographic triangle” that provides a broad comprehension of the trends among Cu secondary surface facets rarely studied in the literature, [particularly (941) and (741)], and clearly shows that the electroreduction activity scales with the step and kink density of these surfaces. This work also reveals that the electrochemical stripping of the passive layer that is naturally formed on Cu in air is strongly grain-dependent, and the relative ease of stripping on low-index facets follows the order of (100) > (111) > (110). This allows a procedure to be implemented, whereby the oxide is removed (to an electrochemically undetectable level) prior to the kinetic analyses of electroreduction activity. SECCM screening allows for the most active surfaces to be ranked and prompts in-depth follow-up studies.

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL), that is, light emission from an electronically excited species generated by electrochemical means, sustains powerful (bio)analytical methods for the ultrasensitive detection of biological targets. Co-reactant systems involving an inexpensive organic molecule, most generally a tertiary amine, and a metal complex luminophore are commonly used for such purposes. Owing to the high cost of the luminophore moiety, several groups have considered minimising its quantity by sequestrating it at high concentration inside nanoparticles. However, to be efficient and to optimise ECL responses, this strategy requires that the nanoparticle carrier is suitably placed inside the diffusion layer of the oxidised organic co-reactant. In this work, we firstly investigated this optimisation problem by introducing a rather simple analytical model to delineate qualitatively the main mechanistic features controlling the ECL intensity. This was then analysed in more detail by using 2D simulations. Analysis of these 2D-heavy simulations in terms of memory occupation and CPU time, evidenced that similar results (i. e. with a relative precision best than a few percent) could be achieved with much faster 1D simulations. These 1D simulations allowed specifying quantitatively the main features of the analytical model qualitative predictions and to propose simple rules for the optimisation of the luminophoredoped nanoparticles placement inside the diffusion layer of the organic co-reactant.

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