Scanning Tunneling Microscophy of Electrode Surfaces

Abstract

One of the most exciting fields in modem electrochemistry is the understanding of the relationship between the structures and properties of the electrode-electrolyte interface at an atomic level. This chapter describes a scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) in electrolyte solutions with an atomic scale. Since R. K. Hansma and co-workers first demonstrated that STM can operate even in electrolyte solutions, the application of new in situ techniques such as STM and atomic force microscopy has recently allowed details of the atomic structure of well-defined electrode surfaces to be described. The underpotential deposition (UPD) of hydrogen and metal adlayers is also important to understanding the role of surface structure at the electrode-electrolyte interface, because it is well known that UPD processes are extremely sensitive to the atomic structure of the electrode surface.