Changes in the surface energy during the reconstruction of Au(1 0 0) and Au(1 1 1) electrodes

The reconstruction of Au(1 0 0) and Au(1 1 1) electrodes is lifted at sufficiently positive potentials. From capacity data the difference in surface energy for the reconstructed and the bulk-terminated surface can be obtained; this energy difference is much larger for Au(1 0 0) than for Au(1 1 1). For non- or weakly adsorbing electrolytes the interaction between the surface dipole and the double layer field or, equivalently, the surface charge, determines the lifting of the reconstruction.