2009 Volume 77 Issue 8 Pages 680-682
Au(100) single crystal surfaces were investigated using in-situ electrochemical atomic force microscopy (EC-AFM) in 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMImBF4) and 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium bis (trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (BMImTFSI). The protrusions with four-fold symmetry and interatomic distances of 0.3 nm were observed in the potential range from −0.42 to +0.68 V (vs. Fc/Fc+ electrode) in BMImBF4 and from −0.35 to +1.06 V in BMImTFSI. These observations corresponded to a bare and unreconstructed Au(100)-(1×1) structure. The top layer of the multi-layered island on Au(100) collapsed at a constant decay rate in both BMImBF4 and BMImTFSI and is consistent with previously reported for EMImBF4, EMImTFSI, and a sulfuric acid aqueous solution.