Observation of morphological relaxation of copper and silver electrodes in solution using a quartz microbalance

Abstract

Oxidation of smooth copper and silver surfaces leads to roughening which persists when the oxide layers are reduced. Furthermore, the roughened surface is observed to relax on a time scale of hours when potentiostated at reductive potentials. Reconstruction was monitored in-situ by differential capacitance and a quartz microbalance oscillating in solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) gave supporting evidence. Estimates of the surface roughness of the oxide layers and the bare metal were obtained from the microbalance data. © 1987.