Tunneling microscopy in an electrochemical cell: Images of Ag plating

A scanning tunneling microscope (STM) operating in an electrochemical cell was used to observe Ag films that had been electrodeposited on a graphite substrate. Before Ag deposition and after stripping the deposited Ag, the atomic features of the graphite substrate were observed. The observed STM images are consistent with an island film growth mechanism. This initial study demonstrates that STM studies of electrochemical processes occurring at electrodes in solution are now possible.