Potential dependent structure and stability of Cu(111) in neutral phosphate electrolyte

DOI: 10.3390/surfaces2010012

Authors: Yvonne Grunder (University of Liverpool) , Jack Beane (University of Liverpool) , Adam Kolodziej (University of Birmingham) , Christopher A. Lucas (University of Liverpool) , Paramaconi Rodriguez (University of Birmingham)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Surfaces , VOL 2 , PAGES 145 - 158

State: Published (Approved)
Published: February 2019
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 17061

Abstract: Copper and copper oxide electrode surfaces are suitable for the electrochemical reduction of CO2 and produce a range of products, with the product selectivity being strongly influenced by the surface structure of the copper electrode. In this paper, we present in-situ surface X-ray diffraction studies on Cu(111) electrodes in neutral phosphate buffered electrolyte solution. The underlying mechanism of the phosphate adsorption and deprotonation of the (di)-hydrogen phosphate is accompanied by a roughening of the copper surface. A change in morphology of the copper surface induced by a roughening process caused by the formation of a mixed copper–oxygen layer could also be observed. The stability of the Cu(111) surface and the change of morphology upon potential cycling strongly depends on the preparation method and history of the electrode. The presence of copper islands on the surface of the Cu(111) electrode leads to irreversible changes in surface morphology via a 3D Cu growth mechanism.

Journal Keywords: Cu(111); electrochemical interface; in-situ X-ray diffraction

Subject Areas: Chemistry, Materials, Physics


Instruments: I07-Surface & interface diffraction

Added On: 22/03/2019 15:51

Documents:
surfaces-02-00012 (1).pdf

Discipline Tags:

Surfaces Physics Physical Chemistry Energy Materials Chemistry Materials Science

Technical Tags:

Diffraction