In-situ Electrochemical Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy
There has been hardly any technique in the last 10 to 20 years that has such an impact on surface science as Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy (STM). The ability to image from length scales from hundreds of micrometers down to the Ångstrom level has revolutionised our view of surfaces. It is now one of the most important methods for characterising solid- liquid and electrochemical interfaces. We are using the technique to characterise a wide variety of electrochemical problems of relevance to batteries, corrosion, fuel cells, metal plating, electrochemical sensors and catalysis. Some examples of STM imaging are shown below.
The figure on the top shows a high resolution STM image of thymine adsorbed on a gold single crystal surface. Individual molecules are imaged, enabling detailed structural models to be built. The chemical structure of thymine is shown (bottom).
An in-situ STM image of a metal monolayer.
An in-situ STM image of an ordered sulphate monolayer recorded for a Au(111) in a sulphuric acid solution.
