Real-Time Plasmonic Imaging of the Compositional Evolution\nof Single Nanoparticles in Electrochemical Reactions

Abstract

Real-time probing of the compositional\nevolution of single nanoparticles\nduring an electrochemical reaction is crucial for understanding the\nstructure-performance relationship and rationally designing nanomaterials\nfor desirable applications; however, it is consistently challenging\nto achieve high-throughput real-time tracking. Here, we present an\noptical imaging method, termed plasmonic scattering interferometry\nmicroscopy (PSIM), which is capable of imaging the compositional evolution\nof single nanoparticles during an aqueous electrochemical reaction\nin real time. By quantifying the plasmonic scattering interferometric\npattern of nanoparticles, we establish the relationship between the\npattern and composition of single nanoparticles. Using PSIM, we have\nsuccessfully probed the compositional transformation dynamics of multiple\nindividual nanoparticles during electrochemical reactions. PSIM could\nbe used as a universal platform for exploring the compositional evolution\nof nanomaterials at the single-nanoparticle level and offers great\npotentials for addressing the extensive fundamental questions in nanoscience\nand nanotechnology.