In-situ surface x-ray scattering studies of electrochemical metal growth and dissolution

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Olaf Magnussen
• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation
• Term: from 2005 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5453665

In this project we plant to study the atomic-scale and mesoscopic structure of gold and platinum electrode surface in-situ during electrochemical deposition processes, focusing on the complex interplay between surface reconstruction and growth process. Specifically, homoepitaxial (diffusion-limited) electrodeposition on the (111) and (100) surfaces of Au and Pt and heteroepitaxial growth of Au on Pt(111) and of Ni on Au(111) electrodes will be investigated. The objective of these studies is to clarify the effect of electrodeposition on the substrate surface reconstructions and the dislocation network structures in the deposits and to study the morphological evolution during the growth process on time scales of 10-1000s. This will be done primarily by surface X-ray cell, which provides nearly unrestricted mass transprot - a key prerequisite in these experiments. In addition, supplementary electrochemical, quartz crystal microbalance, and ellipsometric measurements will be employed. The results of these studies should shed light on the effect of (potential-induced) surface stress at the solid-liquid interfaces on metal electrodeposition and surface structure.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants