Single molecule electro-catalysis of non-fluorescent molecule

Single molecule catalysis is very powerful in revealing catalytic mechanism at the single molecule level. But fluorescent molecule is always necessary to take part into the catalysis directly in previous research. In order to study the single molecule electro-catalysis of non-fluorescent molecule (SMECNFM) on nano-catalyst, we couple the SMECNFM with a single molecule fluorescence reaction. A certain number of fluorescent molecules will be generated and detected when the SMECNFM happens. Through this method, we can detect the electro-oxidation reaction of one HCOONa molecule. The stability of Pt nano-catalyst supported on active carbon is studied at the single molecule level by this method. This paper also provides a general way to make ultra-sensitive sensor, and to study the SMECNFM for the molecules, such as formic acid, hydrogen, oxygen, etc., on single nanoparticle. (C) 2015 Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.