Original Dual Microelectrode: Writing and Reading a local click reaction with Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy

A dual gold-copper microelectrode (diameter 25 mu m) was fabricated to be employed in a scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) configuration, and was used in feedback mode to both modify (write) and analyze (read) a substrate. This write-and-read procedure was performed on a glassy carbon electrode on which azide groups were introduced by electrochemical reduction of a diazonium salt. The copper part of the microelectrode was used to electrogenerate Cu(I) that catalyzed a click reaction between azide moieties on the surface and dissolved ethynylferrocene. This created a pattern of ferrocene moieties on the surface that was analyzed with the gold part of the microelectrode. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.