Introduction to the Modular Map Experiment: an Interdigitated Array electrode example – Scanning Probes – Application Note 14

Abstract

AN#14 – Introduction to the Modular Map Experiment: an Interdigitated Array electrode example The Modular Map Experiment (MME) in the M470 software has been designed to allow users greater freedom in the SECM measurements they perform. In this application note, the use of the MME has been demonstrated by measuring an InterDigitated Array (IDA) electrode in generator-collector and competition mode experiments.

Introduction

The Modular Map Experiment (MME) in the M470 software has been designed to allow users greater freedom in the SECM measurements they perform. This experiment allows the user to perform a number of ChronoAmperometry (CA), and Linear Sweep Voltammetry (LSV) experiments at a point in an SECM area scan experiment before moving to the next point. This can also be used in conjunction with the optional USB-PIO accessory (Product Number: U-USB-PIO) to allow control of an external device, such as a lamp. For a description of the USB-PIO see SCAN-Lab AN#15 [1] In this application note the use of the MME has been demonstrated by measuring an InterDigitated Array (IDA) electrode in generator-collector and competition mode experiments, successively for each point of the area map. Unlike running these two experiments in sequence, the use of the MME means that the two maps are measured under the exact same experimental conditions, e.g. thermal drift occurs at the same rate, the location of measurement is repeated exactly, and electrode fouling which can occur during the initial experiment will not cause the following experiment to be unusable. The IDA electrode used in this work was provided by ELISHA systems Ltd. [2]. A scheme of the IDA is shown in SCAN-Lab AN#13 [3]. It is composed of two sets of interlocking gold fingers on a silicon substrate. Each gold finger has a width of 20 µm and is separated from the next finger by 10 µm of silicon. The gold fingers are contacted by a gold pad. ic-SECM was used in SCAN-Lab AN#13 to map an IDA electrode of this kind [4].

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