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Nanoscale electrochemistry

Feeling the strain

Nature Chemistry volume 3, pages 656–657 (2011)Cite this article

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Characterizing electrochemical behaviour on the nanometre scale is fundamental to gaining complete insight into the working mechanisms of fuel cells. The application of a new scanning probe microscopy technique can now relate local surface structure to electrochemical activity at a resolution below 10 nm.

The quest for new, sustainable energy sources as alternatives to the diminishing reserves of natural petroleum fuels represents an important challenge for scientists in the twenty-first century. In particular, the desire to use hydrogen as a 'green' fuel has accelerated the worldwide development of efficient and environmentally friendly fuel cells.

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Figure 1: A schematic of the electrochemical strain microscopy technique for measuring electrochemical activity at the nanoscale.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hans Elemans is in the Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heijendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands ,

    Johannes A. A. W. Elemans

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  1. Johannes A. A. W. Elemans
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Correspondence to Johannes A. A. W. Elemans.

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Elemans, J. Feeling the strain. Nature Chem 3, 656–657 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.1120

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