Influence of the morphology on the platinum electrode surface activity

Polycrystalline Pt electrodes with different surface characteristics were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in 0.5 M H2SO4. Plane electrodes showed a decrease in electrochemically active surface area while cycling in the hydrogen underpotential region (Hupd), in contrast, electrodes roughened by intensive pre-cycling exhibited a stable value for the electrochemically active surface.