Quantifying electrochemical nucleation and growth of nanoscale clusters using real-time kinetic data.
Electrochemical techniques are used widely for the fabrication of nanostructured materials, yet a quantitative understanding of nucleation and growth remains elusive. Here we probe electrochemical nucleation and growth of individual nanoclusters in real time by combining current-time measurements with simultaneous video imaging. We show discrepancies between the growth kinetics measured for individual nanoclusters and the predictions of models, and we describe a significant revision to conventional models that can explain the results. This improved understanding of nucleation and growth allows a more quantitative approach to the electrochemical fabrication of nanoscale structures.
Radisic
Aleksandar
A
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA.
Vereecken
Philippe M
PM
Hannon
James B
JB
Searson
Peter C
PC
Ross
Frances M
FM
D000327:Adsorption; D004563:Electrochemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013499:Surface Properties; D013997:Time Factors