Electrocatalysis on Single-Crystal Metalelectrodes. On the Role of Surface Structure and Foreign Metal Adatoms

The singular (100) face of gold has a unique ability to catalyze the 4-electron reduction of dioxygen, O2, at high positive potentials in alkaline electrolytes. A series of single-crystal gold electrodes with stepped surfaces vicinal to the (100) face was employed to elucidate the nature of the catalytically 'active centers' and to investigate the effects of electronic charge redistribution at monoatomic surface steps on catalytic activity.