Potential dependence of step and kink energies on Au(100) electrodes in sulfuric acid
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Updated: Sep 29, 2026

Simultaneous Multi-surface Anodizations and Stair-like Reverse Biases Detachment of Anodic Aluminum Oxides in Sulfuric and Oxalic Acid Electrolyte
Published on: October 5, 2017
Sabine Dieluweit1, Harald Ibach, Margret Giesen
1Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institut für Schichten und Grenzflächen ISG 3, Germany.
Abstract:
Using electrochemical STM we studied monolayer high Au islands on Au(100) electrodes in sulfuric acid as a function of the electrode potential. We made use of theoretical and experimental methods recently developed for UHV experiments on metal islands. It is demonstrated that these models are likewise applicable to islands on metal electrodes in a liquid environment. From a quantitative analysis of the equilibrium island shape and of the island shape fluctuations we determined the step free energy (line tension) as a function of orientation and the kink energy, and the dependence of these quantities on the electrode potential. In a first approach to a theoretical understanding the electrostatic contributions to the line tension are considered. It is concluded that these contributions should add significantly to the observed variation with the potential. This fails however to provide essential features of the experimental result.
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