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Title: Visualizing Charge Transport and Nanoscale Electrochemistry by Hyperspectral Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy

Journal Article · · ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces

Charge-transport and electrochemical processes are heavily influenced by the local microstructure. Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) is a widely used technique to map electrochemical potentials at the nanometer scale; however, it offers little information on local charge dynamics. In this study, we implement a hyperspectral KPFM approach for spatially mapping bias-dependent charge dynamics in timescales ranging from the sub-millisecond to the second regime. As a proof of principle, we investigate the role mobile surface charges play in a three-unit-cell LaAlO3/SrTiO3 oxide heterostructure. We explore machine learning approaches to assist with visualization, pattern recognition, and interpretation of the information-rich data sets. Linear unmixing methods reveal hidden bias-dependent interfacial processes, most likely water splitting, which are essentially unnoticed by functional fitting of the dynamic response alone. Hyperspectral KPFM will be beneficial for investigating nanoscale charge transport and local reactivity in systems involving a possible combination of electronic, ionic, and electrochemical phenomena.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); US Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725; FA9550-12-1-0441
OSTI ID:
1661239
Journal Information:
ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Vol. 12, Issue 29; ISSN 1944-8244
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 7 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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