The Potential of Zero Charge and the Electrochemical Interface Structure of Cu(111) in Alkaline Solutions
Andrea Auer, Xing Ding, Aliaksandr S. Bandarenka, Julia Kunze‐Liebhäuser
Abstract
in the apparent double layer region, prior to the onset of hydroxide adsorption. It shifts by (88 ± 4) mV to more positive potentials per decreasing pH unit. At the pzfc, Cu(111) shows structural dynamics at both pH 13 and pH 11, which can be understood as the onset of surface restructuring. At higher potentials, full reconstruction and electric field dependent OH adsorption occurs, which causes a remarkable decrease in the atomic density of the first Cu layer. The expansion of the Cu-Cu distance to 0.3 nm generates a hexagonal Moiré pattern, on which the adsorbed OH forms a commensurate (1 × 2) adlayer structure with a steady state coverage of 0.5 monolayers at pH 13. Our experimental findings shed light on the true charge distribution and its interrelation with the atomic structure of the electrochemical interface of Cu.