Proximal Probe Studies of the Electrode-Electrolyte Interface
Material Measurement Laboratory, Materials Science and Engineering Division
NIST only participates in the February and August reviews.
In situ scanning tunneling and atomic force microscopy are being used to investigate a variety of technologically relevant phenomena, which occur at electrode-electrolyte interfaces. Currently, we are investigating (1) metal on metal epitaxy by electrochemical processing; (2) the role of various organic and inorganic additives in the microstructural evolution of electrodeposited metal films; (3) the structure and dynamics of corroding interfaces with emphasis on de-alloying phenomenon, and formation and breakdown of passivating oxide overlayers on transition metals; (4) structure, assembly, and ordering of molecules on electrode surface relevant to molecular electronics; (5) surface alloys and alloy formation by underpotential deposition processes and kinetic trapping; and (6) the role of surface structure in electrocatalysis.