Introduction

Electrodeposition, electroplating, and catalysis are among the applications of electrochemistry. Electrochemistry is also the basis to understand corrosion processes in our humid atmosphere. Information on the atomic structures of surfaces, both, with and without adsorbates, and thin films is a key to understand many of the processes involved.

With their small wavelength and their ability to penetrate matter, X-rays offer the possibility to investigate surface structures in an electrochemical environment on an atomic scale and in-situ. Using single crystal surfaces allows us to distinguish active sites and correlate mechanisms and structures. Synchrotron radiation offers the unique possibility to choose the wavelength, with high photon density.

Electrochemical cells for in-situ X-ray diffraction

Some Research Highlights

• Corrosion is basically electrochemical in nature. But despite the destructive meaning of the original sense, the underlying forces can be technologically employed. Dealloying, one aspect of alloy corrosion, produces nano-porous metal layers with potential future applications in sensors, catalysis, etc. A recent PhD thesis project looked deeper into the initial processes involved. Download of PhD thesis
  
• Metal deposition on semiconductors is a technologically important and cheep process widely applied in semiconductor industry. Current research projects include the surface structure of GaAs upon etching in aqueous acidic solutions and metal deposition on Si and GaAs surfaces.
  
• Electrochemical metal deposition processes have been a subject of substantial basic research during the last few years, motivated by current technologies as well as future applications. To obtain a better fundamental understanding of electrodeposition processes the homoepitaxial growth of Au on Au(111) in aqueous electrolyte solutions was studied in situ...ESRF Highlight 2004
  
• Surface X-ray scattering study of the formation and reduction of oxide on Au(111) and Au(100) Oxidation is an important process in the corrosion of metals, with well-known devastating consequences. In the humid atmosphere of our blue planet this process is commonly driven by contact-potential differences of surfaces, which are covered by a layer...spotlight on science
  
• The interface structure of KDP (potassium-dihydrogen-phosphate, KH2PO4) crystals with water...ESRF Highlight 2002
• The interaction of sulphur (S) and S-headed organic molecules with metallic surfaces is of interest since...ESRF Highlight 2002

Some Publications

In-situ X-ray study of the initial electrochemical corrosion of Cu3Au(111)
Frank Uwe Renner
Dissertation
Stuttgart, Univ., Diss., 2004

Electrochemical growth of Cu on well-defined Si(111):H surfaces
A.Reizle, F.Renner, T.L.Lee, J.Zegenhagen, D.M.Kolb
Surf. Sci., 576, 19 (2005)

In-situ X-ray Analysis of Solid/Electrolyte Interfaces: Electrodeposition of Cu and Co on Si(111):H and GaAs(001) and Corrosion of Cu3Au(111)
J.Zegenhagen, F.Renner, A.Reizle, T.L.Lee, S.Warren, A.Stierle, H.Dosch, G.Scherb, B.O.Fimland, D.M.Kolb
Surf. Sci., 573, 67 (2004)

Following Adsorption Kinetics at Electrolyte/Metal Interaces through Crystal Truncation Scattering: Sulfur on Au(111)
Vericat C., Vela M.E., Andreasen G.A., Salvarezza R.C.,Borgatti F., Felici R., Renner F., Lee T-L., Zegenhagen J., Martin-Gago JA.
Phys. Rev. Lett., 90, 075506 (2003)

Nitric-oxide adsorption and oxidation on Pt(111) in electrolyte solution under potential control
Caerso E., Alonso C., Martin-Gago JA., Borgatti F., Felici R., Renner F., Lee T-L., Zegenhagen J.
Surf. Sci., 507-510, 688-694 (2002)

A structure study of the electroless deposition of Au on Si(111)
Warren S., Reitzle A., Kazimirov A., Ziegler J. C., Bunk O., Cao L.X., Renner F.U., Kolb D.M., Bedzyk M.J., Zegenhagen J.
Surf. Sci., 496, 287-298 (2002)

Pb deposition on n-Si(111): H electrodes: an in-situ X-ray study
J.C. Ziegler, G. Scherb, O. Bunk, A. Kazimirov, L. Cao, D.M. Kolb, R.L. Johnson and J. Zegenhagen
Surf. Sci., 452, 150-160 (2000)