The construction of microelectrodes and ultramicroelectrodes and their use in SECM and SECCM.

• Grant number: 25/14171-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: March 02, 2026
• End date: March 01, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Mauro Bertotti
• Grantee: Jian Felipe da Silva Pereira
• Supervisor: Janine Mauzeroll
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: McGill University, Canada
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/18077-4 - Fabrication of electrochemical nanosensors for biological applications using SECM, BP.PD

Abstract

This post-doctoral research project focuses on the development and application of electrochemical microelectrodes for high-resolution studies using Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM) and Scanning Electrochemical Cell Microscopy (SECCM). SECM is a powerful technique that utilizes a microelectrode as a scanning probe to map local electrochemical activity near a surface, allowing for the investigation of heterogeneous electron transfer processes and surface reactivity. SECCM, in turn, uses a pipette filled with electrolyte to form a confined meniscus cell at the substrate, allowing localized electrochemical measurements with high spatial resolution and minimal sample preparation.The core objective is the fabrication of high-performance electrodes, based on platinum, gold, carbon, and nanostructured materials, with well-defined geometry and reliable electrochemical behavior. These probes will be integrated into SECM and SECCM platforms and rigorously characterized through scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry and approach curve analysis. A central application of the project is the spatially resolved investigation of metal corrosion processes. By enabling the real-time monitoring of localized anodic and cathodic activities on metallic surfaces, these scanning techniques provide critical insights into the mechanisms of corrosion initiation and propagation at the microscale. In this project, corrosion phenomena on metals, including iron, steel, and aluminum alloys, under various environmental conditions, will be investigated.Importantly, this internship project complements and expands my ongoing postdoctoral research, which focuses on the development of nanoelectrodes for SECM studies of biochemical processes in biological samples. The experience and technical advances gained through this internship will directly support the methodological refinement and broader application of my current work. Beyond corrosion, the fabricated probes will also be tested in model systems related to electrocatalysis and surface reactivity, highlighting their versatility and analytical potential. Ultimately, robust methodologies for the reproducible production of scanning electrochemical probes will be achieved, thereby expanding the toolbox available for both fundamental and applied electrochemistry. (AU)