In Situ Electrochemical XPS Monitoring of the Formation of Anionic Gold Species by Cathodic Corrosion of a Gold Electrode in an Ionic Liquid
Zhen Liu, Oliver Höfft, Alexander Simon Gödde, Frank Endres
Abstract
The application of ionic liquids in ultra-high vacuum opens new opportunities to investigate the electrochemical reactions and interfacial properties by in situ electrochemical X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In this paper, we show with in situ electrochemical XPS that the cathodic corrosion of a gold electrode in an ionic liquid electrolyte leads to the formation of anionic gold species (Au–). This observation opens new opportunities to investigate fundamental electrochemical studies of the deposition process, corrosion behavior, and catalytic processes in a variety of low-vapor pressure ionic liquids.
Topics & Concepts
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopyIonic liquidElectrochemistryCathodic protectionCorrosionElectrolyteMaterials scienceElectrodeIonic bondingCatalysisInorganic chemistryChemical engineeringChemistryMetallurgyIonPhysical chemistryOrganic chemistryEngineeringIonic liquids properties and applicationsElectrochemical Analysis and ApplicationsElectrocatalysts for Energy Conversion