Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

Super-resolution localization microscopy (SRLM), with resolutions beyond the diffraction limits of microscope optics, will be developed specifically for electrochemical interfaces. It will provide critically important in-situ or operando molecular scale resolution images of electrode surfaces. This microscope will be designed with a wide variety of samples in mind, enabling advanced, molecular scale characterization of nanomaterials, for improving and advancing catalysis, drug delivery and biosensors. It is also required to initiate single-molecule analytical sensing for surface-based devices. SRLM is our opportunity to break away from ensemble measurements This SRLM will be developed based on previous successful designs developed by one of the PIs which was used for high resolution imaging of complex biological samples. This new design will be modified for use with reflective metallic surfaces. The group of researchers will be building a super-resolution microscope that has the flexibility to be used with nano materials or interfaces in complex environments under a variety of experimental conditions. To begin, it will be used to characterize electrode surfaces modified by biomolecules (e.g., DNA, peptides, proteins) at molecularly relevant length scales. With this microscope, we will have a new way to 'see' these complex interfaces. This is critical for furthering the understanding of the properties and performance of surface based sensors (e.g., electrochemical biosensors), surface-confined molecular catalysis and nanostructured interfaces. Open questions that will be answered are: 'how uniform is the distribution of molecules on the surface, do they clump into clusters, collect around scratches/defects on the surface, are they able to bind with the analyte from solution?' SRLM fills a gap in the in-situ measurement landscape that is critically required for engineering the electrode surface with a molecular level of control and measurement. HQP trained in the advanced study of nanostructured particles and surfaces via the use of the super-resolution microscope will result in a significantly richer and deeper understanding of optics, image analysis, data analysis, fundamental mechanistic understanding of catalysis at a single molecule / single particle level, and develop expertise in new single molecule analytical methods. This training will ensure high quality opportunities for students pursuing post-doctoral studies as well as attracting excellent HQP to work in this emerging area.