Electrochemical characterization of kinked Pt(7 5 1) surface in acidic media

Kinked Pt(7 5 1) surface was prepared and its electrochemical behaviors under different pretreatment conditions in acidic media were investigated systematically by using cyclic voltammetry. The results demonstrated that the upper limit of potential scanning and cooling atmospheres after the Pt(7 5 1) having been flame-annealed significantly influence the voltammetric behavior of Pt(7 5 1) electrode. The electric charge of hydrogen adsorption–desorption slightly increases with increasing the upper limit of potential scanning. Different cooling atmospheres give rise impacts to the surface structure of Pt(7 5 1) electrode, but hardly change the amount of hydrogen adsorption–desorption sites on the electrode. In addition, the so-called third oxidation peak appears near −0.08 V in H2SO4 media and −0.05 V in HClO4 solution because of the presence of (1 1 0) terrace sites on this surface, and a plausible mechanism for the formation of this current peak is discussed. The results are of importance in understanding the electroadsorption properties of the kinked Pt(7 5 1) surface, as well as in further exploration of this kinked electrode in electrocatalysis.