JPK Instruments has announced electrochemical capabilities for its NanoWizard AFM systems.
The JPK ECCell enables simultaneous AFM and electrochemistry with full environmental control.
It enables simultaneous fluorescence experiments to be carried out when the JPK NanoWizard AFM is operated on inverted optical microscopes.
The cell design integrates the many components and control elements within a small volume around the AFM tip.
This has been achieved with the JPK ECCell, which offers the complete electrode set of working electrode, counter electrode and commercial reference electrode, together with an optional tip bias connection, for instance, for scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM).
The three fluid inlets allow liquid exchange during the measurements as well as gas exchange over the liquid in the chamber for inert gas experiments in an oxygen-free environment.
The temperature control unit gives precise temperature stability from room temperature to 60C in aqueous solutions.
The ECCell is compatible with a range of opaque or transparent samples, including standard coverslips, metal, or silicon chips.
It can be used for simultaneous optical experiments if the sample is transparent.
For example, ITO-coated coverslips allow conductive measurements simultaneously with high numerical aperture immersion objectives.
The mechanical stability ensures that simultaneous high-resolution AFM imaging is possible.
This allows experiments where the optical microscope is used to simultaneously observe the sample.
Living cells can be monitored on Multi-Electrode Arrays (MEAs), or fluorescence can be used to see electrochemical changes or switching of surface molecules.
