The use of nanoparticles (NPs) in electrocatalytic applications is now ubiquitous, due to their inherently high surface areas and the possibility of tuning reactivity through variations in shape and/or size. However, their heterogeneous nature presents a challenge to fundamental investigations seeking to establish relationships between NP structure and reactivity. Employing analytical techniques which probe individual NPs is a promising strategy for overcoming this challenge, though correlating structure and function in electrochemical systems at the single NP level remains difficult. Here, a novel analytical approach to determining how the geometry of individual NPs affect their electrocatalytic properties is presented. The structure and reactivity of individual NPs are analyzed simultaneously using a combination of high resolution optical and electrochemical measurements, using optical spectroscopy to probe the structure of individual NPs and Scanning ElectroChemical Cell Microscopy (SECCM) to evaluate catalytic activity. Initial results applying the developed methodology to the study of hydrazine oxidation at individual Au triangular nanoprisms will be presented.

Using measurements at individual nanoparticles to screen electrocatalysts for hydrazine oxidation

256th National Meeting (2018)

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