Optimized hand fabricated AFM probes for simultaneous topographical and electrochemical tapping mode imaging

► A benchtop method for the convenient fabrication of combined AFM-SECM tapping mode probes from gold microwires is described. ► These hybrid nanosensors allow the coupling of 3D imaging ability of atomic force microscopy with the analytical power of electrochemical microscopy. ► Local measurement of electrochemical-activity of gold bands functionalized by redox-labeled nanometer-sized polyethylene glycol chains was achieved with simultaneous imaging of the 3D surface topography at high resolution.