The influence of surface crystallography on the interfacial behaviour of tetrabutylammonium cations at Au(1 0 0) and Au(1 1 1) electrodes

• Behaviour of TBA cations on Au(1 0 0) and Au(1 1 1) surfaces is structure sensitive.
• The adsorption features resemble those of a simple organic molecules.
• The presence of TBA cations on the surface delays lifting of the reconstruction.

The impact of the structure of electrode surface on the behaviour of tetrabutylammonium cations on gold (1 0 0) and (1 1 1) electrodes has been studied using the cyclic voltammetry and differential capacity measurements. The adsorption features of these cations were found to be structure sensitive and resemble those of simple organic molecules rather than those of ions. It was also suggested that adsorption of anions from supporting electrolyte lifts the reconstruction which is modified by the tetrabutylammonium cations on the surface.