Dynamic imaging of interfacial electrochemistry on single Ag nanowires by azimuth-modulated plasmonic scattering interferometry

Direct visualization of surface chemical dynamics in solution is essential for understanding the mechanisms involved in nanocatalysis and electrochemistry; however, it is challenging to achieve high spatial and temporal resolution. Here, we present an azimuth-modulated plasmonic imaging technique capable of imaging dynamic interfacial changes. The method avoids strong interference from reflected light and consequently eliminates the parabolic-like interferometric patterns in the images, allowing for a 67-fold increase in the spatial resolution of plasmonic imaging. We demonstrate that this optical imaging approach enables comprehensive analyses of surface chemical dynamics and identification of previously unknown surface reaction heterogeneity by investigating electrochemical redox reactions over single silver nanowires as an example. This work provides a general strategy for high-resolution plasmonic imaging of surface electrochemical dynamics and other interfacial chemical reactions, complementing existing surface characterization methods. Direct visualization of the chemical dynamics of surfaces in solution is essential to gain mechanistic insights into nanocatalysis and electrochemistry. Here, the authors demonstrate the imaging of dynamic interfacial changes on a single nanowire during chemical reactions using azimuthally modulated plasmonic scattering interferometry.