In situ EC-AFM imaging of cathodic modifications of platinum surfaces performed in dimethylformamide

Abstract

We used electrochemical atomic force microscopy (AFM) in contact mode for the in situ investigations of cathodic electrochemical Pt modifications in dimethylformamide with epitaxial (1 0 0)Pt thin layers deposited on (1 0 0)MgO. A homemade cell and a specific procedure were developed to work in dry and anaerobic conditions in DMF that are required for the Pt modifications to occur. Remarkable morphology changes were observed according to the injected charges in the sample. Experiments suggest that the modification starts from the metal–solution interface and proceeds inside the sample. If the electrochemical modification is stopped before the entire layer is converted, the process is reversible and the initial morphology is almost recovered after re-oxidation under air.