Potentiostatic and potentiodynamic X-ray diffraction studies of silver UPD on AU (111) electrode from sulphate and acetate supporting electrolytes

Abstract

We report for the first time a structural study of Ag UPD on Au (111) electrode using Surface X-ray Scattering Technique. Reflections have been used to determine the structure in the surface plane while out of the plane atomic positions determined by measuring diffract ions along crystal truncation rods. In addition, studies from surface differential diffraction are compared. Utilizing these two methods, we have been able to accurately define the silver adlayer structure during UPD process and can confirm authoritatively that it forms a Q x 3) at 400 mV versus Ag/Ag+ potential which then transforms to a (1 x 1), adlayer structure at 50-mV potential before the on set of bulk deposition.