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Structural Changes of Au(111) Single‐Crystal Electrode Surface in Ionic Liquids
Author(s) -
Rudnev Alexander V.,
Ehrenburg Maria R.,
Molodkina Elena B.,
Abdelrahman Areeg,
Arenz Matthias,
Broekmann Peter,
Jacob Timo
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
chemelectrochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.182
H-Index - 59
ISSN - 2196-0216
DOI - 10.1002/celc.201902010
Subject(s) - dicyanamide , ionic liquid , electrochemistry , electrolyte , scanning tunneling microscope , ion , electrode , chemistry , adsorption , single crystal , inorganic chemistry , materials science , crystallography , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , catalysis
Despite a persistent interest in using ionic liquids (ILs) as an electrolyte for various electrochemical applications, the fundamental understanding of the processes at the electrode/IL interface is still at a preliminary stage. Herein, we employ electrochemical in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to investigate structural changes of a Au(111) single‐crystal surface in four ILs: 1‐butyl‐1‐methylpyrrolidinium dicyanamide [BMP][DCA], 1‐butyl‐1‐methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide [BMP][TFSI], 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium dicyanamide [EMIm][DCA], and 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium acetate [EMIm][OAc]. The STM data demonstrate a significant effect of IL ions on the potential ranges of Au(111) surface stability/instability and on the intensity and pattern of the occurring surface changes. Moreover, the effect of both the anion and cation on the surface stability is considerable in a wide range from high negative to high positive potentials. Apparently, not only strong ion adsorption but also the arrangement of IL ions at the electrolyte side of the interface has a significant impact on the stability of the gold surface.