In situ STM study of homoepitaxial electrodeposition on Au(1 0 0)

We have studied by in situ scanning tunneling microscopy the homoepitaxial electrodeposition on reconstructed and partially reconstructed Au(1 0 0) surfaces from chloride-containing solutions. Layer-by-layer, but strongly anisotropic, growth is observed on a completely reconstructed surface. On a partially reconstructed surface nucleation occurs on the unreconstructed areas, but the new islands formed tend to be pinned, growing anisotropically along the borders between reconstructed and unreconstructed areas.