Enhanced signal to noise ratio of single entity electrochemistry signal of platinum nanoparticles using passive silver ultramicroelectrode

Abstract

The single-entity electrochemistry (SEE) of electrocatalytic platinum (Pt) single nanoparticles (NPs) on a less electrocatalytic silver (Ag) ultramicroelectrode (UME) surface was investigated using the electrocatalytic amplification method. Two characteristic types of current responses—current staircases and blips (or spikes)—were observed during single NP collision experiments, depending on the applied potential at the Ag UME. Notably, at applied potentials of 0.13 and 0.17 V, the Ag UME becomes passive due to the formation of a delicate oxide layer, resulting in a highly stable background current. This leads to an enhanced signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio, attributed to the low background current, when using Ag UME compared to commonly used UMEs such as Au, C, Ni, and Hg for the SEE of Pt NPs. The exceptionally low background current can provide a significant advantage for detailed observation of SEE signals and further mechanistic studies based on the current response.