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In‐situ STM studies of electrochemical underpotential deposition of Pb on Au(111)
Author(s) -
Green M. P.,
Richter M.,
Xing X.,
Scherson D.,
Hanson K. J.,
Ross P. N.,
Carr R.,
Lindau I.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.1988.tb01455.x
Subject(s) - underpotential deposition , monolayer , deposition (geology) , scanning tunneling microscope , electrolyte , electrochemistry , in situ , stripping (fiber) , substrate (aquarium) , electroplating , chemistry , analytical chemistry (journal) , materials science , electrode , nanotechnology , cyclic voltammetry , layer (electronics) , composite material , geology , paleontology , oceanography , organic chemistry , chromatography , sediment
SUMMARY A modified scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) has been used to observe in‐situ deposition and stripping of an electrochemical film. With STM tip and sample immersed in an acid electrolyte, single atomic steps on Au(111) have been imaged during the deposition and stripping of a monolayer‐thick, underpotential deposit (UPD) of Pb. Integration of the electrochemical current passed during the film deposition and evidence from the STM images themselves confirm monolayer coverage. Our images show enhanced film growth at step edges and defect sites. Observations of single plating and stripping cycles indicate that the Au substrate returns unaltered. Except for atomic resolution images of Au(111), which we have not yet achieved in an electrolyte, all types of Au surface features seen in air are reproduced under the electrolytic solution. The modifications made to our STM in order to perform in‐situ electrochemical experiments are described.