A simulation of two-dimensional Ostwald ripening on silver electrodes

Ostwald ripening of metal islands has been investigated by kinetic Monte Carlo simulation's using the results of quantum-chemical calculations and of the embedded atom method as input data. On Au(1 00) Ostwald ripening was found to be kinetically hindered at ambient temperatures. In contrast, small islands on Ag(1 00) decayed readily at uncharged and at positively charged surfaces. The rate of ripening increases both with temperature and with the surface charge. The latter effect is caused by the interaction of local dipole moments with the double-layer field. This work confirms and extends recent investigations of the effect of the field on the surface mobility of metal electrodes. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.