Surface structure and electrochemistry: new insight by scanning tunneling microscopy

The importance of the electrode surface structure in electrochemistry is briefly described. Examples are given in which the structural information provided by scannhg tunneling microscopy (STM) is of assistance in clarifyingthe electrochemicalbehavior. The importance of surface structure in the photoelectrochemical response of metals is illustrated by an STM application. Finally, the potentialities of new scanning microprobe techniques suitable for mapping local photoelectrochemical properties of metal surfaces are briefly discussed.