Integrated Calendar

The nano-impact technique is among the latest and most considerable advances in electrochemistry and enables the detection and characterisation of individual nanoparticles, viruses, and bacteria. Its significance particularly arises from the broad applicability and simplicity of the experimental set-up and procedure: An electrode is set in contact with a solution comprising a suspension of analyte particles and is biased versus the solution potential. By virtue of Brownian motion, individual analyte entities then stochastically impact on the electrode surface, where they give rise to transient currents, Faradaic or capacitive, and an analysis provides insight into the nature of the impacting entity as well as the prevalent reaction mechanism.
The talk commences with a broad overview of the nano-impact technique while particularly theoretical aspects are highlighted. We then turn to examples of theoretical work on stochastic processes and the feasibility of individual enzyme detection to illustrate topics that are currently researched. In the light of recent developments, the talk finally points out future challenges and opportunities in the theory of nano-impacts.