Titanium Nitride Microelectrode: A New Candidate for In Situ Electrochemical Transmission Electron Microscopy Study

Abstract

In situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is increasingly utilized by researchers to explore various electrochemical applications in the quest to address climate change, aiming to comprehend underlying mechanisms and enhance performance. However, the conventional Pt microelectrode commonly used in in situ TEM poses limitations due to its low electron transparency and high catalytic activity. In this study, titanium nitride (TiNx) is introduced as a novel microelectrode material that can be fabricated following typical cleanroom processes. Through in situ Zn and Cu electrodeposition studies, it is shown how the low catalytic activity and higher electron transparency of TiNx enable obtaining stable electrochemical cycling and quantify the deposition on top of microelectrode in TEM mode, highlighting the benefit of TiNx microelectrodes for different in situ TEM studies.