SECM is an electrochemical imaging technique that allows in-situ mapping of surface topography of samples immersed in solutions as well as spatially visualization of chemical reactivity. SECM differs from AFM and STM in the chemical sensitivity of the sensortip and the use of ionic atoms or molecules in solutions (electrolytes) as basis for the picture acquisition.The SECM can be used to examine, analyze or alter the surface chemistry of a sample in solution.


The SECM equipment has many potential applications in the study of fundamentals of surface reactions for example in corrosion science, or the study of enzyme stabilization and for MEMS, ion transport through semipermeable membrane pores, monitoring activities in living cells, studies of overpotentials in connection with gas evolution reactions (eg H2 formation on various metals), deposition of solid materials on various substrates, adsorption processes, characterization of biosensors and sensor development in general for micro fabrication of ultra micro electrodes (using the tip as an electronic etcher).