Single-molecule electrocatalysis by single-walled carbon nanotubes.
We report a single-molecule fluorescence study of electrocatalysis by single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) at single-reaction resolution. Applying super-resolution optical imaging, we find that the electrocatalysis occurs at discrete, nanometer-dimension sites on SWNTs. Single-molecule kinetic analysis leads to an electrocatalytic mechanism, allowing quantification of the reactivity and heterogeneity of individual reactive sites. Combined with conductivity measurements, this approach will be powerful to interrogate how the electronic structure of SWNTs affects the electrocatalytic interfacial charge transfer, a process fundamental to photoelectrochemical cells.
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
Weilin
W
Xu
Hao
H
Shen
Yoon Ji
YJ
Kim
Xiaochun
X
Zhou
Guokun
G
Liu
Jiwoong
J
Park
Peng
P
Chen
D002384:Catalysis; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D008956:Models, Chemical; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon