In situ electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy of single-crystal surfaces of Pt(111), Rh(111), and Pd(111) in aqueous sulfuric acid solution

Journal Article · · Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology. B, Microelectronics Processing and Phenomena; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.585589· OSTI ID:5231605

Sashikata, Kenji; Furuya, Nagakazu; Itaya, Kingo ^[1]

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1. Tohoku Univ., Sendai (Japan)

This paper reports on in situ electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) applied to single-crystal platinum(111), rhodium(111), and palladium(11) surfaces in an aqueous sulfuric acid solution. Atomically flat surfaces on Pt(111) are roughened in solutions by the electrochemical oxidation-reduction cycle. It is shown that a single potential cycle causes the formation of many adatoms and very small clusters on the Pt(111) terrace. A steady-state surface structure can be clearly observed after applying a few potential cycles. The STM image is composed of regularly arrayed islands whose diameter and height are in the ranges of 2-3 and 0.5-0.75 nm, respectively. Atomically flat terrace-step structures can be also observed on Rh(111) and Pd(111) surfaces. The effect of oxidation-reduction cycle on these surfaces is also discussed.

• OSTI ID: 5231605
• Journal Information: Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology. B, Microelectronics Processing and Phenomena; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology. B, Microelectronics Processing and Phenomena; (United States) Vol. 9:2; ISSN 0734-211X; ISSN JVTBD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360104 -- Metals & Alloys-- Physical Properties
360105* -- Metals & Alloys-- Corrosion & Erosion
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CORROSION
DISPERSIONS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CORROSION
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ELEMENTS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IN-SITU PROCESSING
INORGANIC ACIDS
METALS
MICROSCOPY
MIXTURES
PALLADIUM
PLATINUM
PLATINUM METALS
PROCESSING
RHODIUM
ROUGHNESS
SOLUTIONS
SULFURIC ACID
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS