Single molecule spectroscopy at interfaces

Fluorophores “Turned-On” by Corrosion Reactions Can Be Detected at the Single-Molecule Level

“…The fluorescence signal from individual molecules are detected using a highly-sensitive camera after the separation of the emitted red-shifted fluorescence from the excitation light. Chemical specificity to detect desired processes can be achieved by selecting dyes which undergo specific fluorogenic reactions (Figure B) . By observing one molecule at a time, heterogeneities hidden in conventional experiments can be determined .…”

“…Chemical specificity to detect desired processes can be achieved by selecting dyes which undergo specific fluorogenic reactions (Figure 1B). 20 By observing one molecule at a time, heterogeneities hidden in conventional experiments can be determined. 21 Millisecond time resolutions and subdiffraction limited, three-dimensional spatial resolutions at ∼10 nm can be achieved in situ for single molecules.…”

Reduction reactions at metal/non-aqueous interfaces can be sensed with the turn-on fluorophore resazurin

“…Fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy can detect in situ chemical reactions, the latter with high spatial and temporal resolution. 14 Resazurin turn-on has been used to monitor redox reactions including corrosion of iron, 15 catalysis by gold nanoparticles, 16 and aerobic processes of microorganisms. 17 Weakly fluorescent resazurin is irreversibly reduced to highly fluorescent resorufin in the presence of these redox reactions (Fig.…”

Single Molecule Microscopic Detection of Corrosion Reactions using “Turned-on” Fluorophores

“…Desired chemical process can be studied by selecting fluorophores that undergo specific fluorogenic reactions (Fig. 1B) [2]. Heterogeneities hidden in the conventional experiments can be determined by observing one molecule at a time [3].…”