Surface Energy of Low-Index Faces of Single-Crystal Gold in Molten Sodium,Potassium, and Cesium Chlorides

The free energies of formation of gold faces (111) and (100) in molten sodium, potassium, and cesium chlorides are measured by the meniscus weighing method. The effect of the cation size, temperature, and electric potential on the electrocapillary curve and PZC is considered. A mechanism for the anion adsorption at a charged metal surface, based on the participation of valence orbitals of the electrode metal in the formation of surface compounds, is suggested.