Surface Film Formation and Lithium Underpotential Deposition on Au(111) Surfaces in Propylene Carbonate

Abstract

The formation and the morphological change of surface film on a Au~111! electrode in propylene carbonate solution containing 0.1 M LiClO4 in the potential region between 0.8 and 2.5 V (Li/Li 1 were studied by in situ scanning tunneling microscopy. The surface film was observed on a gold electrode at potentials more negative than 1.5 V ~Li/Li 1 and many nuclei appeared on the flat terrace of the electrode at potentials more negative than 0.9 V, where underpotential deposition of lithium on gold was started. Many holes on the surface film were observed after the dissolution of lithium and were thought to be formed as a result of breakdown of the film in nanometer order. The deposition and dissolution of the submonolayer lithium affected the surface morphology in nanometer order.