Principle of Azimuth-Modulated Plasmonic Scattering Interferometric Microscopy
In the study conducted by Prof. Liu Xianwei and his team from the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), they have made significant progress in the field of dynamic imaging of interfacial electrochemistry. Their findings have been published in a research article titled “Dynamic Imaging of Interfacial Electrochemistry on Single Ag Nanowires by Azimuth-modulated Plasmonic Scattering Interferometry” in Nature Communications.
The catalytic conversion of pollutants plays a crucial role in water pollution control. Understanding the dynamic changes occurring at the active sites of environmental catalytic materials during the conversion process is essential for decoding the catalytic mechanism, establishing the structure-activity relationship, and designing new catalysts. Despite the growing interest in analyzing the active sites of nanomaterials, studying the dynamic progression of reactions at the interface of individual nanomaterials in mild aqueous environments presents several challenges.
To address these challenges, the research team developed a high-resolution plasmonic scattering interferometric imaging technique. By modulating the incident light, they successfully eliminated interference from reflected light and achieved surface plasmonic scattering interferometric imaging with superior spatial resolution and strong anti-interference capabilities. As an illustration, the team tracked the in situ electrochemical transformation process of a single silver nanowire in solution, precisely mapped the distribution of the nanowire reaction, and provided crucial evidence to establish the connection between surface defects, reconfiguration, and reaction activity. This label-free imaging analysis method can be combined with electron microscopy to characterize the structure and chemical composition of nanomaterials. It offers an effective analytical approach and technological platform for high-resolution in situ imaging of pollutant catalytic conversion dynamics and deciphering structure-activity relationships.
The research conducted by Prof. Liu Xianwei and his team opens new possibilities for dynamic imaging of interfacial electrochemistry. Their groundbreaking technique promises to advance our understanding of catalytic processes and pave the way for the development of innovative environmental catalysts.
Reference:
Gang Wu et al, “Dynamic Imaging of Interfacial Electrochemistry on Single Ag Nanowires by Azimuth-modulated Plasmonic Scattering Interferometry,” Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39866-8
Provided by the University of Science and Technology of China
Citation:
“Achieving Dynamic Imaging of Interfacial Electrochemistry” (2023, August 11) Retrieved 12 August 2023 from https://phys.org/news/2023-08-dynamic-imaging-interfacial-electrochemistry.html
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Shambhu Kumar is a science communicator, making complex scientific topics accessible to all. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
