Role of electrochemical activity and electronic structure studied using a scanning tunneling microscopy approach

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My project aimed to investigate the role of heterogeneity on the local electronic and structural properties of model electrochemical (electrode/electrolyte) interfaces. Namely, multi-component molecule-level heterogeneity and its dependencies of molecular assemblies. This involved the construction and utilization an approach that combines electrochemistry with ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscopy. This enables electrochemical-control followed by high-resolution imaging, an approach that has been rarely reported. Indeed, I was able to probe a variety of electrochemical interfaces including graphite electrode emersed from non-aqueous electrolytes and halide-modified gold surfaces. In contrast to studies that provide averaged (electrode-level) information, the approach here can be used to clarify what local structures are desired from the standpoint of electrode design in electrochemical devices.