Techniques

Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy (SICM)

A microscope that uses a nanopipette (radius below 50 nm) to obtain the nanoscale topography of living cells. It is very similar to atomic force microscopy (AFM), but whereas AFM detects force, SICM uses changes in ion current, so measurements are completely non-contact. It can visualize endocytic pits in living cells.

 

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Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM)

Using a microelectrode (radius below 10 µm), SECM oxidizes or reduces chemicals in solution and displays the resulting current (proportional to concentration) as a two-dimensional image. It can estimate the respiration of a single cell and measure neurotransmitters and ROS.

Scanning Electrochemical Cell Microscopy (SECCM)

Using a nanopipette (radius below 50 nm), SECCM forms a local electrochemical cell on a sample surface in air and scans it while performing electrochemical measurements, displaying the current arising from surface reactivity (proportional to concentration) as a two-dimensional image. We use it to evaluate energy storage, catalytic activity, corrosion and more.