Methods and systems for analysis
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Publication Number
US-11249046-B2
Publication Date
2022-02-15
Expiration Date
Abstract
Provided herein are systems and methods for the detection, quantification, and/or monitoring of analytes in samples. The systems and methods can be used, for example, to track the deposition and electrochemical behavior of individual nanoparticles and nanoparticles clusters clusters in situ with high spatial and temporal resolution. The systems and methods can be used to track the deposition and oxidation of several hundreds to thousands of nanoparticles simultaneously and reconstruct their voltammetric curves at the single nanoparticle level.
Core Innovation
A method applies a potential to a liquid sample within an electrochemical cell, where the liquid sample comprises metal ions and at least a portion of the metal ions form nanoparticles, clusters of nanoparticles, or a combination thereof upon the application of a sufficient potential. The electrochemical cell resides within a system having an optical path, and the working electrode comprises a microscope coverslip that is substantially optically transparent, while the sample is contained within the optical path in a nonconducting sample containment vessel having a liquid tight seal with the working electrode.
The method captures an electrochemical signal from the liquid sample and captures an image from the liquid sample, where the image comprises a dark field scattering image, an electrogenerated chemiluminescence image, a fluorescence image, or a combination thereof. The method processes the electrochemical signal to obtain an electrochemical parameter and processes the image to obtain an optical parameter, where the optical parameter comprises nanoparticle size.
The method correlates the optical parameter to the electrochemical parameter to obtain an optoelectrochemical parameter. The optoelectrochemical parameter comprises the potential and current at which individual nanoparticles, clusters of nanoparticles, or a combination thereof, of a specific size are formed in the liquid sample. The system also includes one or more additional electrodes in electrochemical contact with the liquid sample and a power supply electrically coupled to the working electrode and the one or more additional electrodes to apply the potential to the liquid sample.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim describes a method that integrates applying a potential to form metal-ion nanoparticles with simultaneous optical imaging and electrochemical signal processing to correlate nanoparticle size with electrochemical parameters. The inventive features number four in the independent claim: (1) optically accessible electrochemical nanoparticle formation, (2) paired electrochemical and optical imaging capture, (3) optical-to-electrochemical correlation to obtain an optoelectrochemical parameter, and (4) specific cell and sample containment constraints.
Optically accessible electrochemical formation of metal-ion nanoparticles in a transparent-electrode cell
Applying a potential to a liquid sample in an electrochemical cell where the liquid sample comprises metal ions forming nanoparticles, clusters, or a combination thereof, with an optical path through the cell and a substantially optically transparent microscope coverslip working electrode in electrochemical contact with the liquid sample.
Simultaneous electrochemical-signal capture and optical imaging of nanoparticle formation
Capturing an electrochemical signal from the liquid sample and capturing an image from the liquid sample comprising a dark field scattering image, an electrogenerated chemiluminescence image, a fluorescence image, or a combination thereof.
Optical-parameter extraction of nanoparticle size and electrochemical-signal processing
Processing the electrochemical signal to obtain an electrochemical parameter and processing the image to obtain an optical parameter comprising nanoparticle size.
Correlation to obtain size-resolved optoelectrochemical formation conditions
Correlating the optical parameter to the electrochemical parameter to obtain an optoelectrochemical parameter, where the optoelectrochemical parameter comprises the potential and current at which individual nanoparticles or clusters of a specific size are formed in the liquid sample.
Overall, the independent claim covers correlating electrochemical and optical measurements in an optically accessible electrochemical cell to produce a size-resolved optoelectrochemical parameter.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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