Publication 729

Nanomaterials, 3 (2), 303-316, 2013 DOI: 10.3390/nano3020303	PDF
Nano-Electrochemistry and Nano-Electrografting with an Original Combined AFM-SECM

- Applied Thermodynamics Research Unit, National Engineering School of Gabès, Gabès University, Rue Omar Ibn-Elkhattab, 6029 Gabes, Tunisia
- Laboratory of Chemistry of Surfaces and Interfaces, DSM/IRAMIS/SPCSI, Atomic Energy Commission of Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Department of Molecular Chemistry, Joseph Fourier University, Grenoble Cedex 09, France
- Laboratoire d'Electrochimie Moléculaire, UMR CNRS 7591, Univ Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Bâtiment Lavoisier, 15 rue Jean-Antoine de Baïf, 75205 Paris Cedex 13, France

This study demonstrates the advantages of the combination between atomic force microscopy and scanning electrochemical microscopy. The combined technique can perform nano-electrochemical measurements onto agarose surface and nano-electrografting of non-conducting polymers onto conducting surfaces. This work was achieved by manufacturing an original Atomic Force Microscopy-Scanning ElectroChemical Microscopy (AFM-SECM) electrode. The capabilities of the AFM-SECM-electrode were tested with the nano-electrografting of vinylic monomers initiated by aryl diazonium salts. Nano-electrochemical and technical processes were thoroughly described, so as to allow experiments reproducing. A plausible explanation of chemical and electrochemical mechanisms, leading to the nano-grafting process, was reported. This combined technique represents the first step towards improved nano-processes for the nano-electrografting.