By using a method based upon the time dependence of the surface roughness factor of electrodispersed gold electrodes, it was possible to estimate values of the surface diffusion coefficients of gold atoms in contact with an 1M HClO4 electrolytic solution at room temperature. The exponential growth of the surface diffusion coefficient with E, at potentials which were positive with respect to the zero charge potential, was interpreted as being a consequence of the increase in the surface mobility of gold atoms, associated with their growing interactions with species in the electrolyte (water molecules), and the consequent decrease of their interactions with bulk gold atoms, i.e. with the loss in metallic character inherent in the use of individual orbitals in the formation of covalent bonds with hydroxyls arising from water molecules.

The Dependence of the Surface Diffusion Coefficients of Gold Atoms on the Potential - its Influence on Reconstruction of Metal Lattices. J.M.Doña, J.González-Velasco: Surface Science, 1992, 274[2], 205-14