Potential-dependent adsorption/desorption behavior of perfluorosulfonated ionomer on a gold electrode surface studied by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical quartz microbalance, and electrochemical atomic force microscopy.

Potential-dependent adsorption/desorption behavior of perfluorosulfonated ionomer (PFSI) on a gold electrode was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM), and electrochemical atomic force microscopy (EC-AFM) in a Nafion (i.e., PFSI) dispersed aqueous solution without any other electrolyte. It was found that PFSI serves as an electrolyte and that electrochemical measurements can be performed in this solution without any significant IR drop. PFSI molecules were adsorbed on the Au surface in the lying-down configuration in the potential range between 0 and 0.45 V, the amount of adsorbed PFSI increased when the potential was made more positive than 0.75 V, and the adsorbed PFSI fully desorbed from the surface at potentials more positive than 1.4 V where gold oxide was formed. Once the gold oxide had been reduced, PFSI readsorbed on the surface, albeit slowly. PFSI desorbed from the surface as the potential was made more negative than 0 V. These processes took place reversibly.