Abstract
Scanning electron and scanning tunneling microscopies have been used to study the morphology of Pt films electrodeposited on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG); deposition was from solutions containing K2PtCl6and Pb(C2H3O2)2in order to produce films of Pt black. The resulting films consisted of mixed regions of Pt black and Pt gray surrounding bare patches of HOPG. Microscopic analyses reveal that the gray areas contain Pt islands which form patterns consistent with deposition preferentially at defects on the electrode surface. These islands grow as large as 1 μm in diameter before coalescing. The black areas exhibit a greater density of Pt with deposition occurring both at defects and on the flat areas between them. Pt islands in the black areas grow to only ca. 0.2 μm before coalescing. The aggregates formed in the black region have a rougher morphology due to the smaller size which islands reach before they coalesce. The presence of both gray and black areas is attributed to two factors: the role of adsorbed Pb2+ions and the deposition rate gradients created by pockets of N2gas trapped on the HOPG surface.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
