Influence of argon ion beam etching and thermal treatment on polycrystalline and single crystal gold electrodes Au(100) and Au(111)

The effect of argon ion beam etching and subsequent annealing on the surface morphology and electrochemical response of poly- and monocrystalline gold electrodes was studied with the help of scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry and measurements of under-potential deposition of lead. While the samples were cleaned and restructured by the argon ion beam the following thermal treatment produced stable and very smooth highly ordered surfaces. The specific behaviour of polycrystalline and monocrystalline gold surfaces is discussed. •Time-efficient method for preparation of smooth and highly ordered gold surfaces•Ion beam restructures electrode surface in deviation from original orientation.•Thermal treatment restores original orientation.•Polycrystalline gold is not the summation of individual single crystal planes.