title: Electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy.
abstract: The electrochemical scanning tunneling microscope was the first tool for the investigation of solid-liquid interfaces that allowed in situ real space imaging of electrode surfaces at the atomic level. Therefore it quickly became an important addition to the repertoire of methods  for the determination of the local surface structure as well as the dynamics of reactions and processes taking place at surfaces in an electrolytic environment. In this short overview we present several examples to illustrate the powerful capabilities of the EC-STM, including the observation  of clean metal surfaces as well as the adsorption of thin metal layers, specifically adsorbed anions and non-specifically adsorbed organic cations. In several cases the electrode potential has a significant influence on structure and reactivity of the surface that can be explained by the observations  made with the EC-STM.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry University of Bonn, Wegelerstr. 12, D-53115 Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Knud
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gentz
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wandelt
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000295:instrumentation; D004566:Electrodes; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry; D016252:Microscopy, Scanning Tunneling / Q000295:instrumentation; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D008670:Metals