Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026
09:35
Applying Dynamic Strain on Thin Oxide Films Immobilized on a Pseudoelastic Nickel-Titanium Alloy
Published on: July 28, 2020
Tuning adsorption via strain and vertical ligand effects
Harry E Hoster1, Otávio B Alves, Marc T M Koper
1Institute of Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany. harry.hoster@uni-ulm.de
Summary
We studied platinum (Pt) layers on ruthenium (Ru) surfaces to understand hydrogen and hydroxyl adsorption. Density functional theory accurately predicts how these layers affect adsorption behavior compared to pure Pt surfaces.
Area of Science:
- Surface Science
- Electrochemistry
- Computational Materials Science
Background:
- Pseudomorphic platinum (Pt) mono- and multilayers on ruthenium (Ru(0001)) surfaces serve as model systems for studying Pt(111) properties.
- These model surfaces exhibit altered affinities for adsorbed hydrogen (H(ad)) and hydroxyl (OH(ad)) compared to pure Pt(111).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structure and electrochemical adsorption characteristics of Pt mono- and multilayers on Ru(0001).
- To compare the adsorption behavior of H(ad) and OH(ad) on these model surfaces with that on Pt(111).
- To validate the predictive accuracy of density functional theory (DFT) for these electrochemical phenomena.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication and characterization of well-defined pseudomorphic Pt mono- and multilayers on Ru(0001) using surface science techniques.
- Electrochemical measurements, including cyclic voltammetry, to study the adsorption of upd-H(ad) and upd-OH(ad).
- Density functional theory (DFT) calculations to determine H(ad) adsorption energies and simulate adsorption onset potentials.
Main Results:
- Cyclic voltammograms show shifts in the potential regions for reversible adsorption of upd-H(ad) (more negative) and upd-OH(ad) (more positive) compared to Pt(111).
- DFT calculations accurately predict the trends observed in the adsorption potential regions for upd-H(ad).
- Precise simulation of upd-H(ad) onset potentials was achieved by combining DFT adsorption energies, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) layer thickness data, and Pt(111) voltammogram baselines.
Conclusions:
- Pseudomorphic Pt/Ru(0001) systems provide valuable model surfaces for understanding modified Pt electrocatalysis.
- DFT is a reliable tool for predicting electrochemical adsorption behavior on modified Pt surfaces.
- The interplay between surface structure, adsorption energy, and electrochemical potential dictates adsorption phenomena.
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