2024/08/21 by Itir Bakis Dogru Yuksel, Yuksel, Itir Bakis Dogru, Zhu Zhang +9
Engineering · Materials Science · #Advanced Materials Characterization Techniques #Diamond and Carbon-based Materials Research #FOS: Physical sciences #Laser-induced spectroscopy and plasma #Soft Condensed Matter (cond-mat.soft)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2408.11980
openalex publication_date 2024/08/21 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
This study introduces a straightforward electrode design featuring sharp edges with a curvature of a few hundred nanometers in radius, with which both ion accumulation and nanoparticle deposition can be observed under an alternating electrical potential. The electrodes, termed 'shark-teeth electrodes', are fabricated using a laser ablation technique optimized for facile nanostructure creation. This method involves successive, overlapping ablated discs in a thin film of gold, producing sharp tips that generate strong electric fields. When electrically polarized in an electrolyte solution, these sharp tips form a screening layer, facilitating the observation of ion and nanoparticle behavior. A total-internal reflection microscope is employed to monitor ion accumulation on these electrodes, demonstrating their capability in iontronic microscopy. Additionally, the same electrodes are used to track nanoparticle trapping under high-frequency alternating potentials. This dual functionality allows for the investigation of electrochemical and physical interactions between ions and colloidal nanoparticles, contributing valuable insights to the field of soft matter.