Missing-row reconstructions on Au(110) immersed in electrolytes have been studied by in situ reflectance anisotropy spectroscopy. Transitions between the 1 x 3, 1 x 2, and 1 x 1 surface structures were monitored as a function of the applied potential. A kinetic model allowed us to reproduce the data satisfactorily. These results confirm the theoretical predictions showing that the surface charge determines the surface reconstruction. The transition potentials and the activation barriers were determined.

The Au(110) surface in electrochemical environment (0.1 M Na2SO4 solution) has been studied by in situ reflectance anisotropy spectroscopy (RAS) and by in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Three ranges of applied potential could be determined: negative potential (≈︂ —0.6 V vs. Ag/AgCl) where a clear (1 × 3) reconstruction is obtained; positive potential (≈︂0.6 V) where the surface is unreconstructed; and intermediate potential where the surface displays both mixed (1 × 3) and (1 × 2) domains. The significant differences in the RAS curves for the differently reconstructed Au(110) surfaces are attributed both to the local‐field effect acting on the interband transitions at the surface, and to the changes of free electron relaxation time in the [001] direction (perpendicular to the atomic rows) due to different corrugations of the surface.