Learn How AFM Determines Ionic Liquid EDL Structure
Ionic liquid electrolytes are promising materials for high-density energy storage, but their properties at the electrical double layer (EDL) is poorly understood.
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Topics include:
The advantages and challenges associated with ionic liquid electrolytes
Ultra-high resolution AFM imaging resolves the ordered structure at the EDL, comparable to results previously only attainable using UHV scanning tunneling microscopy (STM)
AFM imaging has the added advantage of being in the native state (liquid-solid interface between the ionic liquid and HOPG) instead of frozen for UHV-STM.
Contact mode AFM force curves also detect ionic liquid ordering at the EDL
Photothermal excitation (blueDrive) enables even more sensitive detection of ionic liquid ordering using AC-mode (tapping) force curves