Comparative Second Harmonic Study of Cu(111) in UHV and in Solution

摘要

This paper provides important new information about the surface properties of acopper single crystal electrode as examined by surface optical second harmonic (SH) generation. The unique aspect of the work is that SH response from the Cu(lll) electrode surface was examined and compared with identical studies performed on this surface in ultra-high vacuum. The results provide compelling evidence for the existence of surface oxides even under conditions where one might expect the electrode surface to be oxide free.