Chapter 2
Methods for Investigating
Electro-Chemo-Mechanical Properties
of Solid Electrode Surfaces
Abstract Several methods powerful for investigating the electro-chemo-mechanical
properties of solid electrode surfaces have been introduced and discussed. A piezoelectric response method can detect sensitively the differential surface stress. The
principle and feature of the piezoelectric response method are explained, and its
application results of a polycrystalline gold electrode in sulfuric acid solution are
discussed. A cantilever bending method is capable of measuring the changes in
surface stress from the curvature of a cantilever electrode. The principle and feature
of the curvature measurement by a laser beam for the cantilever bending method
are explained, and the issues for the curvature measurement are discussed. Furthermore, new techniques for measuring the change in surface stress due to the change
in surface charge or the change in potential due to the elastic deformation of solid
electrodes and for detecting the change in surface elastic strain of nano-porous metal
electrodes are introduced and their principles and features are explained.
Keywords Surface stress measurement · Cantilever bending · Piezoelectric
detection · Elastic deformation · Dilatometry
2.1 Introduction
The change in potential or in surface charge of a solid electrode induces the change in
surface stress, while the elastic deformation of a solid electrode induces the change in
potential. The measurements of the potential- or surface charge-induced surface stress
change and of the elastic deformation-induced potential change are indispensable for
investigating the electro-chemo-mechanical properties of solid electrode surfaces.
The principles and features of various methods developed so far for the measurement
of the surface stress change have been described and discussed in detail by Láng
[1]. Particularly, piezoelectric detection and cantilever bending methods have been
conveniently employed for the measurement of the changes in surface stress for noble
metal electrodes such as Au and Pt. In addition, new methods for detecting sensitively
the surface charge-induced surface stress change and the elastic deformation-induced
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
M. Seo, Electro-Chemo-Mechanical Properties of Solid Electrode Surfaces,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-7277-7_2
39
Methods for Investigating
Electro-Chemo-Mechanical Properties
of Solid Electrode Surfaces
Abstract Several methods powerful for investigating the electro-chemo-mechanical
properties of solid electrode surfaces have been introduced and discussed. A piezoelectric response method can detect sensitively the differential surface stress. The
principle and feature of the piezoelectric response method are explained, and its
application results of a polycrystalline gold electrode in sulfuric acid solution are
discussed. A cantilever bending method is capable of measuring the changes in
surface stress from the curvature of a cantilever electrode. The principle and feature
of the curvature measurement by a laser beam for the cantilever bending method
are explained, and the issues for the curvature measurement are discussed. Furthermore, new techniques for measuring the change in surface stress due to the change
in surface charge or the change in potential due to the elastic deformation of solid
electrodes and for detecting the change in surface elastic strain of nano-porous metal
electrodes are introduced and their principles and features are explained.
Keywords Surface stress measurement · Cantilever bending · Piezoelectric
detection · Elastic deformation · Dilatometry
2.1 Introduction
The change in potential or in surface charge of a solid electrode induces the change in
surface stress, while the elastic deformation of a solid electrode induces the change in
potential. The measurements of the potential- or surface charge-induced surface stress
change and of the elastic deformation-induced potential change are indispensable for
investigating the electro-chemo-mechanical properties of solid electrode surfaces.
The principles and features of various methods developed so far for the measurement
of the surface stress change have been described and discussed in detail by Láng
[1]. Particularly, piezoelectric detection and cantilever bending methods have been
conveniently employed for the measurement of the changes in surface stress for noble
metal electrodes such as Au and Pt. In addition, new methods for detecting sensitively
the surface charge-induced surface stress change and the elastic deformation-induced
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
M. Seo, Electro-Chemo-Mechanical Properties of Solid Electrode Surfaces,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-7277-7_2
39