Significant two-step potential-induced surface reconstruction observed on Au(111) in aqueous sulfuric acid

[en] We report in this communication, through in situ STM images correlated with time, and ab initio simulations of binding energies, how potential-induced surface reconstruction is formed on Au(111) single crystal in 0.1 M H2SO4. It was found that while the electrode potential after lifting the reconstructed surface is switched back to a more negative value than the potential of zero charge, the formation process of the reconstructed surface goes through two consecutive routes. In the more kinetically favorable step, and within a few minutes, the reconstructed surface follows three different lattice directions with a high proportion of semi zig-zag structures. However, by maintaining the negative applied potential, the surface reconstruction rearranges to a straighter reconstructed pattern in the second step, which is more energetically favorable.

Disciplines :

Chemistry

Author, co-author :

Hamill, Joseph ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Molecular Systems (MolSys)

Zhour, Kazem

Diddens, Diddo

Baghernejad, Masoud

Language :

English

Title :

Significant two-step potential-induced surface reconstruction observed on Au(111) in aqueous sulfuric acid

Publication date :

July 2022

Journal title :

Electrochemistry Communications

ISSN :

1388-2481

eISSN :

1873-1902

Publisher :

Elsevier, Nl

Volume :

140

Pages :

107332

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Additional URL :

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1388248122001345

Available on ORBi :

since 01 April 2026

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