AbstractSurface functional groups have a strong influence on the deposition and final state of nanoparticles adsorbed on to the surface, a role discussed by Professor Spencer in his work. This tribute to Spencer explores the formation of hydroxyls, thiosulfates, sulfites and sulfur atoms on carbon (HOPG) surfaces and their effect on the deposition of gold and palladium from aqueous solutions. Hydroxyls formed from ammonium hydroxide treatment have identical behaviour to those formed by acid treatment, and gold adsorption from Au³⁺ solutions gives Au⁰ initially, with Au³⁺ formed at higher concentrations on these surfaces. In contrast, palladium adsorption is hindered by the presence of the hydroxyls and there is no indication of any reduction to the metallic state. Ammonium thiosulfate adsorbs dissociatively from aqueous solutions on HOPG if the surface is pre-activated by the presence of surface hydroxyls. At low concentrations of ammonium thiosulfate, adsorbed sulfite and sulfur are formed in equimolar concentrations whereas adsorption of high concentrations of ammonium thiosulfate gives some degree of molecular adsorption, with evidence in XP spectra for an ammonium ion and a sulfur 2p peak at 282.9 eV attributed to the undissociated thiosulfate ion. Both sulfur and the sulfite are stable at the surface in neutral solutions but the sulfite desorbs when treated with acidified solutions (~ pH ≤ 6). These two groups are also stable at 373 K but begin to desorb by 473 K. Exposure to a weak chloroauric acid solution causes the desorption of the sulfite and formation of a gold species with an XP binding energy of 84.6 eV; we cannot determine from the present data whether this peak is due to a Au(I) state or very small nanoparticles of Au(0). Graphic Abstract