Nucleation, aggregative growth and detachment of metal nanoparticles during electrodeposition at electrode surfaces.

ABSTRACT: The nucleation and growth of metal nanoparticles (NPs) on surfaces is of considerable interest with regard to creating functional interfaces with myriad applications. Yet, key features of these processes remain elusive and are undergoing revision. Here, the mechanism of the electrodeposition of silver on basal plane highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) is investigated as a model system at a wide range of length scales, spanning electrochemical measurements from the macroscale to the nanoscale using scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM), a pipette-based approach. The macroscale measurements show that the nucleation process cannot be modelled as either truly instantaneous or progressive, and that step edge sites of HOPG do not play a dominant role in nucleation events compare

SUBMITTER: Lai SCS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5811076 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature