Chemically resolved transient collision events of single electrocatalytic nanoparticles.

Here we report the use of fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) to study transient collision and immobilization events of single electrocatalytic metal nanoparticles (NPs) on an inert electrode. In this study, a fast, repetitive voltage signal is continuously scanned on an ultramicroelectrode and its faradaic signal is recorded. Electrocatalytically active metal NPs are allowed to collide and immobilize on the electrode resulting in the direct recording of the transient voltammetric response of single NPs. This approach enables one to obtain the transient voltammetric response and electrocatalytic effects of single catalytic NPs as they interact with an inert electrode. The use of FSCV has enabled us to obtain chemical information, which is otherwise difficult to study with previous amperometric methods.