In situ electrochemical STM study of platinum nanodot arrays on highly oriented pyrolythic graphite prepared by electron beam lithography

Model electrodes consisting of platinum dots with a mean diameter of (30 ± 5) nm and heights of 3–5 nm upon highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) were prepared by electron beam lithography and subsequent sputtering. The Pt nanodot arrays were stable during scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) measurements in air and in sulphuric acid electrolyte, indicating the presence of “anchors”, immobilising the dots on the HOPG surface.Electrochemical STM was used to visualise potential induced Pt, carbon and Pt-influenced carbon corrosion in situ in 0.5 M sulphuric acid under ambient conditions. Potentiostatic hold experiments show that the Pt dots start to disappear at electrode potentials of E > 1.4 V vs. SHE. With increasing time and potential a hole pattern congruent to the original dot pattern appears on the HOPG basal planes. Corrosion and peeling of the HOPG substrate could also be followed in situ.Dissolution of Pt dots appears to be accelerated for potential cycling experiments compared to the potential hold statistics.