Data from: A look inside a flexible open-source scanning electrochemical probe microscope
Data files
Dec 12, 2025 version files 53.90 MB
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README.md
3.51 KB
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ScanHopping.tsv
53.90 MB
Abstract
Scanning electrochemical probe microscopy (SEPM) maps and investigates the chemical and physical properties of surfaces and interfaces using a micro- or nanoscale electrochemical probe, e.g., a microelectrode or a nanopipette, positioned close to an interface of interest. SEPMs share a common general architecture but are distinct from each other through the choice of probe and in the different physicochemical properties of the sample that can be investigated, including, among others, interfacial charge transfer rates, topography, permeability, or surface charge. Thus, a single instrument, with an appropriately flexible control system, can facilitate widespread access to the family of SEPM techniques - scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM), scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM), the scanning micropipette contact method (SMCM), and hybrid varieties of these techniques. Herein, we describe in detail a flexible open-source SEPM instrument that can perform common and widely applicable SEPM techniques and experimenter-defined methodologies, with minimal programming from the user. The instrument makes use of a field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based data acquisition card, and this contribution further illustrates the benefits of adopting FPGA architecture generally in electrochemical instrumentation. We describe the software and hardware for the instrument, using examples from the literature to illustrate how common SEPM operation modes and hyphenated techniques are readily implemented. Additionally, to demonstrate the application of custom-developed scanning protocols, we briefly present some further experimental examples. This Tutorial seeks to serve the needs of expert users of SEPMs and encourage new entrants alike. To this end, to encourage those who are interested in either setting up their own instruments or making optimal use of commercially available instruments, we also briefly include some more basic and general information on SEPM techniques and uses, to put the more advanced work and instrumental aspects in context.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.9p8cz8wx3
Description of the data and file structure
Comma-separated text file representing SICM imaging of topography and BH4- electrooxidation on a Au nanocluster (AuNC) in 30 mM NaOH (pH 12.5) aqueous solution with 3 mM NaBH4. Figures and tables refer to the associated primary article.
Files and variables
- ScanHopping.tsv
Columns represent:
| Data Channel Name | Units | Description | Breakout Box Connector |
|---|---|---|---|
| X | µm | Measured X Piezo Position | AI-0 |
| Y | µm | Measured Y Piezo Position | AI-1 |
| Z | µm | Measured Z Piezo Position | AI-2 |
| V1 | volts | Voltage 1 | AO-3 |
| V2 | volts | Voltage 2 | AO-4 |
| Current1 | amperes | Current 1 | AI-3 |
| Current2 | amperes | Current 2 | AI-4 |
| Current3 | amperes | Current 3 | AI-6 |
| Feedback Type | integer | Feedback type for z-piezo control. See Table S2 details. | |
| Line Number | integer | Indicates the waypoint number being approached (starts = 1 and increments by 1 as each waypoint is reached) | |
| Lock-in Amplitude | amperes^[1]^ | Oscillation amplitude (rms/peak-to-peak depending on the lock-in model) | AI-5 |
| Lock-in phase | degrees | Oscillation phase vs the reference phase (from lock-in amplifier). | AI-7 |
| δtdata | seconds | Time between data point and the preceding data point (see above for definition) |
[1] This presupposes that the current is being fed into the lock-in amplifier; a common setup that is shown in Figure S8. If other inputs are fed to the lock-in units will be different.
