Thermodynamic details tunnel structures

The electrochemical methods provide only indirect information about the structure of the UPD ad-atom layers in an atomic scale. In order to obtain more direct information about the structure of the UPD ad-atom layers, many investigators have adopted the use of in situ techniques, in which the electrode surface is examined with surface science methods. The methods mainly used are in situ X-ray diffraction [7,15-17], in situ scarming tunneling microscopy (STM) [18-23], and in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) [24]. These methods have provided detailed information on the atomic structure, the thermodynamic stability, and the dependence of the structure on the potential for several UPD systems. Tfowever, little attempt has been made (and this mainly concerns the reduction of oxygen) to correlate directly the structure of the ad-atom... 

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