Medium-energy electron diffraction, surface structure

As mentioned previously, this can be attributed in part to the lack of structure-sensitive techniques that can operate in the presence of a condensed phase. Ultrahigh-vacuum (UHV) surface spectroscopic techniques such as low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and others have been applied to the study of electrochemical interfaces, and a wealth of information has emerged from these ex situ studies on well-defined electrode surfaces.15"17 However, the fact that these techniques require the use of UHV precludes their use for in situ studies of the electrode/solution interface. In addition, transfer of the electrode from the electrolytic medium into UHV introduces the very serious question of whether the nature of the surface examined ex situ has the same structure as the surface in contact with the electrolyte and under potential control. Furthermore, any information on the solution side of the interface is, of necessity, lost. 

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