Temperature-induced ordering of metal/adsorbate structures at electrochemical interfaces.

The influence of temperature changes in water-based electrolytes on the atomic structure at the electrochemical interface has been studied using in situ surface X-ray scattering (SXS) in combination with cyclic voltammetry. Results are presented for the potential-dependent surface reconstruction of Au(100), the adsorption and ordering of bromide anions on the Au(100) surface, and the adsorption and oxidation of CO on Pt(111) in pure HClO(4) and in the presence of anions. These systems represent a range of structural phenomena, namely metal surface restructuring and ordering transitions in both nonreactive spectator species and reactive adsorbate layers. The key effect of temperature appears to be in controlling the kinetics of the surface reactions that involve oxygenated species, such as hydroxyl adsorption and oxide formation. The results indicate that temperature effects should be considered in the determination of structure-function relationships in many important electrochemical systems.