Underpotential deposition and dielectric electronegativity scale

Abstract

The in situ differential reflectance spectrum of a polycrystalline gold electrode in 1 mol dm^–3 HClO₄ solutions as a function of coverage of Pb, Ag and Cu adatoms, has been measured in the visible region. The optical response of the metal modified surfaces was analysed through correlations with parameters related to the electronic properties of the surface such as the electronic work function difference between the substrate and the metal adatoms and the dielectric electronegativity difference. A reasonable correlation between the interband threshold and the dielectric electronegativity difference was found.