Fermi level-tuned optics of graphene for attocoulomb-scale quantification of electron transfer at single gold nanoparticles

Qing Xia, Zixuan Chen, Pengwei Xiao, Minxuan Wang, Xueqin Chen, Jian-Rong Zhang, Hong-Yuan Chen and Jun-Jie Zhu ()
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Qing Xia: Nanjing University
Zixuan Chen: Nanjing University
Pengwei Xiao: Nanjing University
Minxuan Wang: Nanjing University
Xueqin Chen: Nanjing University
Jian-Rong Zhang: Nanjing University
Hong-Yuan Chen: Nanjing University
Jun-Jie Zhu: Nanjing University

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Measurement of electron transfer at single-molecule level is normally restricted by the detection limit of faraday current, currently in a picoampere to nanoampere range. Here we demonstrate a unique graphene-based electrochemical microscopy technique to make an advance in the detection limit. The optical signal of electron transfer arises from the Fermi level-tuned Rayleigh scattering of graphene, which is further enhanced by immobilized gold nanostars. Owing to the specific response to surface charged carriers, graphene-based electrochemical microscopy enables an attoampere-scale detection limit of faraday current at multiple individual gold nanoelectrodes simultaneously. Using the graphene-based electrochemical microscopy, we show the capability to quantitatively measure the attocoulomb-scale electron transfer in cytochrome c adsorbed at a single nanoelectrode. We anticipate the graphene-based electrochemical microscopy to be a potential electrochemical tool for in situ study of biological electron transfer process in organelles, for example the mitochondrial electron transfer, in consideration of the anti-interference ability to chemicals and organisms.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11816-3

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