Development of nanostructured metal surfaces for application in surface intensified infrared absorption spectromicroscopy (Micro-SEIRAS) and in situ electrochemistry

• Grant number: 19/03033-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2019
• End date: March 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Frank Nelson Crespilho
• Grantee: Daniel da Silva de Sousa
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectromicroscopy (micro-FTIR) can be coupled with electrochemistry, which allows the generation of chemical images on solid surfaces under stationary and transient potential conditions. This technique named Electrochemical Coupled Vibrational Spectromicroscopy (EVSM). Though this technique, problems with signal attenuation from aqueous electrolyte during in-situ electrochemical experiments have been overcome. Also, amplification of the signal can help in the detailed study of the molecular events. In this regarding, this undergraduate research project aims to develop nanostructured metallic surfaces to be used on working electrodes, particularly designed to obtain the signal enhancement through the Surface Enhanced Infrared Absorption (SEIRA) effect. This effect arises from the amplification of the cross-section for the absorption of infrared radiation and has been extensively reported in the literature, principally in the study of the enhanced signals from the molecules with biological interest. Specifically, this project will focus on the preparation of the bimetallic nanostructures, such as gold and silver, which will be employed in the development of the surface-enhanced infrared spectroscopy (Micro-SEIRAS) and will be used together with EVSM. Our intend is introduce new protocols for the study of the electrochemical and spectroscopic properties of biomolecules, such as enzymes and redox proteins immobilized on the metallic nanostructured surfaces.