Local Electrodeposition of Metals by Tip Electrode Dissolution Using Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy

We have electrodeposited palladium and gold micropatternings using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) with the metal precursor ions generated via anodic dissolution of the ultramicroelectrode (UME) tip itself. Concurrently, in-situ reduction of the metal ions occurred at the substrate electrode, where the deposition parameters were optimized. In particular, this is the first direct Pd patterning using Pd dissolution without any mediators. The catalytic activities of oxygen reduction on the Pd or Au were studied with tip generation-substrate collection mode of SECM. The possibility of simultaneous co-deposition of Pd and Au was also demonstrated using a dual Pd and Au UME.