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Structure transitions between copper-sulphate and copper-chloride UPD phases on Au(111)

Pobelov, Ilya ; Nagy, Gábor ; Wandlowski, Thomas

In: Journal of Chemical Sciences, 2009, vol. 121, no. 5, p. 745-756

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    Title
    • Structure transitions between copper-sulphate and copper-chloride UPD phases on Au(111)
    Author
    • Pobelov, Ilya. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland
    • Nagy, Gábor. Institute of Bio- and Nanosystems IBN 3 and Center of Nanoelectronic Systems for Informational Technology, Research Center Jülich, D-52425, Jülich, Germany
    • Wandlowski, Thomas. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:318822
    Summary
    Structure transitions between copper UPD adlayers on Au(111)-(1 × 1) in sulfuric acid and chloride containing electrolyte were investigated by in situ scanning tunnelling microscopy. We demonstrate that co-adsorbed sulphate ions in the (√3 × √3)R30° UPD adlayer are replaced by chloride ions and, depending on the halide coverage, a commensurate (2 × 2) or a slightly distorted (5 × 5)-like Cu-Cl UPD adlayer are formed. The stability ranges of these phases are controlled both by the electrode potential and the Cl− concentration. Phase transitions between the three UPD phases were monitored by time-resolved in situ STM. The observed structure details were attributed to mechanisms based on two-dimensional nucleation and growth processes