Single entity dynamic electrochemistry

Ensemble-averaging measurements mask the link between the electrochemical performances and the intrinsic properties of an individual because of its inhomogeneity and heterogeneity. Single entity collision electrochemistry has been used to investigate the electrochemical behaviors of free-diffused individual entities during their collisions at ultramicroelectrodes. However, the dynamic behavior of an individual is closely related to the electrochemical reaction process. Therefore, the studies on the electrochemical behavior of individual entities can real-time obtain the dynamic electrochemical reaction information of individual entities at the electrode interface, in order to understand the dynamic transfer process of charges or electrons at the electrode interface. In this review, we summarize dynamic electrochemical behaviors of individual entities. We first introduce dynamic electrochemical reaction process based on the transient current response generated by collision event from a single nanoparticle at the electrode surface, and then extend to the dynamic electrochemical behavior of other entities. Furthermore, optical visualization has been combined with the stochastic collision electrochemical measurement as a high spatial- and temporal-resolved method to generate a full picture of single entity dynamic electrochemical reaction mechanism/dynamics with sufficient information. Finally, the main scientific challenging and future research concerning in this field are proposed.