Formation of adsorbate structures on Cu(111) during hydrogen evolution

摘要

The atomic structure of a Cu(111) electrode surface in dilute sulfuric acid solution has been studied in the potential regime of hydrogen evolution using of in-situ STM. By changing the electrode potential from positive potentials to the onset of hydrogen evolution at more negative potentials first sulfate anions desorb from the surface before adsorption of a new solvent species takes place leading to the formation of a highly ordered, hexagonal Moire pattern. These new adsorbate layers remain st able even under massive hydrogen evolution.