Electrodeposition of Ag Overlayers onto Pt(111): Structural, Electrochemical and Electrocatalytic Properties

Abstract

Epitaxially grown Ag overlayers have been fabricated by electrochemical deposition onto Pt(111). The electrochemical behaviour of these Ag overlayers has been studied by cyclic voltammetry, and their adsorption properties are significantly influenced by the underlying Pt(111) substrate and markedly different from those of Ag(111). A characteristic voltammetric peak for OH adsorption on pseudomorphic Ag islands has been observed for alkaline solution. A deposition–dissolution hysteresis in the underpotential deposition region for the Ag bilayer suggests exchange processes between subsurface Ag and Pt atoms. Theoretical DFT calculations confirm the stability of a pseudomorphic Ag monolayer. However, it is shown for two and three Ag layers that the formation of sandwich structures is theoretically favoured, i.e. Ag layers tend to be separated by single Pt layers. While Ag displaces hydrogen adsorbed in the underpotential region, the activity of Ag monolayers for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is very close to that of Pt(111). Also, Tafel slopes for HER on the first pseudomorphic Ag monolayer on Pt(111) and for blank Pt(111) are almost identical, whereas thicker overlayers are more Ag-like. It is shown by theoretical calculations for the case of an Ag monolayer on Pt(111) that hydrogen can be adsorbed on the Pt subsurface layer.