In Situ Electrochemical XPS Monitoring of the Formation of Anionic Gold Species by Cathodic Corrosion of a Gold Electrode in an Ionic Liquid

The application of ionic liquids in ultra-high vacuum opens new opportunities to investigate the electrochemical reactions and interfacial properties by in situ electrochemical X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In this paper, we show with in situ electrochemical XPS that the cathodic corrosion of a gold electrode in an ionic liquid electrolyte leads to the formation of anionic gold species (Au-). This observation opens new opportunities to investigate fundamental electrochemical studies of the deposition process, corrosion behavior, and catalytic processes in a variety of low-vapor pressure ionic liquids.

Automated summary

The application of ionic liquids in ultra-high vacuum allows for the investigation of electrochemical reactions and interfacial properties through in situ electrochemical XPS. The study showed that cathodic corrosion of a gold electrode in an ionic liquid electrolyte leads to the formation of anionic gold species (Au-), providing new opportunities for research on deposition processes, corrosion behavior, and catalytic processes.