In situ surface x-ray diffraction studies of homoepitaxial electrochemical growth on Au(100).

Direct in situ x-ray surface scattering studies of growth at a solid-liquid interface are demonstrated using the homoepitaxial electrodeposition on Au(100) as an example. With decreasing potential transitions from step-flow to layer-by-layer growth, manifested by layering oscillations in the x-ray intensity, then to multilayer growth, and finally back to layer-by-layer growth were observed. This complex growth behavior can be explained by the effect of anion coadsorbates and the potential-dependent Au surface reconstruction on the Au surface mobility.