Volume 246, 2023

Fuelling electrocatalysis at a single nanoparticle by ion flow in a nanoconfined electrolyte layer

Abstract

We explore the possibility of coupling the transport of ions and water in a nanochannel with the chemical transformation of a reactant at an individual catalytic nanoparticle (NP). Such configuration could be interesting for constructing artificial photosynthesis devices coupling the asymmetric production of ions at the catalytic NP, with the ion selectivity of the nanochannels acting as ion pumps. Herein we propose to observe how such ion pumping can be coupled to an electrochemical reaction operated at the level of an individual electrocatalytic Pt NP. This is achieved by confining a (reservoir) droplet of electrolyte to within a few micrometres away from an electrocatalytic Pt NP on an electrode. While the region of the electrode confined by the reservoir and the NP are cathodically polarised, operando optical microscopy reveals the growth of an electrolyte nanodroplet on top of the NP. This suggests that the electrocatalysis of the oxygen reduction reaction operates at the NP and that an electrolyte nanochannel is formed – acting as an ion pump – between the reservoir and the NP. We have described here the optically imaged phenomena and their relevance to the characterization of the electrolyte nanochannel linking the NPs to the electrolyte microreservoir. Additionally, we have addressed the capacity of the nanochannel to transport ions and solvent flow to the NP.

Graphical abstract: Fuelling electrocatalysis at a single nanoparticle by ion flow in a nanoconfined electrolyte layer

Associated articles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
07 Feb 2023
Accepted
13 Mar 2023
First published
13 Mar 2023
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Faraday Discuss., 2023,246, 441-465

Fuelling electrocatalysis at a single nanoparticle by ion flow in a nanoconfined electrolyte layer

L. Godeffroy, V. Shkirskiy, J. Noël, J. Lemineur and F. Kanoufi, Faraday Discuss., 2023, 246, 441 DOI: 10.1039/D3FD00032J

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