Extending an in situ scanning tunneling microscopic study to rough electrode surfaces — iodine adsorption at silver electrodes

We demonstrate some unique properties of a rough silver electrode surface revealed by the atomic-resolution electro- chemical scanning tunneling microscopy ECSTM.measurements. Taking the well-known system of iodine adsorption, we observed distinctly different iodine adlayer structures and surface diffusion behavior on mechanically polished polycrystalline silver electrodes in comparison with those on single-crystal electrodes. The results indicate the need to extend atomic-resolution STM studies to rough surfaces of practical importance. q2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.