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

我的项目旨在研究模型电化学（电极/电解质）界面的局部电子和结构特性的异质性的作用。即，多组分分子水平的不均匀性及其对分子组装的依赖性。这涉及到一种将电化学与电子扫描隧道显微镜相结合的方法的构建和利用。这使得电化学控制，然后高分辨率成像，一种方法，一直很少报道。事实上，我能够探测各种电化学界面，包括从非水电解质和卤化物改性的金表面出现的石墨电极。与提供平均（电极级）信息的研究相反，这里的方法可以用于澄清从电化学装置中的电极设计的角度来看期望的局部结构。

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.