Revealing Grain Dependent Glucose Oxidation Pathways on Gold with Scanning Electrochemical Cell Microscopy

Abstract

Correlative scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM) and electron backscatter diffraction, applied separately at identical locations on a polycrystalline gold, reveal grain-dependent nanoscale glucose oxidation reaction (GOR) activity. A new current-normalisation approach enables accurate comparison of low-current signals (0.6–12.2 pA). The combined analysis from both techniques shows that crystallographic orientation, AuOH-site availability, and surface regeneration through repeated SECCM cycles collectively govern GOR pathways. These results demonstrate that SECCM enables reliable low-current analysis of oxidation processes while resolving structure–reactivity relationships.