Surface electron potential

Chemisorption occurs when the attractive potential well is large so that upon adsorption a strong chemical bond to a surface is fonued. Chemisorption involves changes to both the molecule and surface electronic states. For example, when oxygen adsorbs onto a metal surface, a partially ionic bond is created as charge transfers from the substrate to the oxygen atom. Other chemisorbed species interact in a more covalent maimer by sharing electrons, but this still involves perturbations to the electronic system. 

Figure Bl.26.21. Potential energy curves for an electron near a metal surface. Image potential curve no applied field. Total potential curve applied external field = -E. ...

Let us see now what happens in a similar linear scan voltammetric experiment, but utilizing a stirred solution. Under these conditions, the bulk concentration (C0(b, t)) is maintained at a distance S by the stilling. It is not influenced by the surface electron transfer reaction (as long as the ratio of electrode area to solution volume is small). The slope of the concentration-distance profile [(CQ(b, t) — Co(0, /))/r)] is thus determined solely by the change in the surface concentration (Co(0, /)). Hence, the decrease in Co(0, t) duiing the potential scan (around E°) results in a sharp rise in the current. When a potential more negative than E by 118 mV is reached, Co(0, t) approaches zero, and a limiting current (if) is achieved ... 

One basic reason which made the absolute electron potential problem so complicated to solve in aqueous electrochemistry is the experimental difficulty of measuring work functions on metal surfaces covered with liquid films or in contact with liquids and their vapours. 

Figure 7.1. Definition of absolute electron potential in aqueous electrochemistry according to Trasatti16 in a classical (a) and liquid covered (b) electrode geometry. Point C corresponds to the zero energy level. O0 is the work function of the bare electrode surface and AC>(=eA P) is the work function modification induced by the presence of the electrolyte layer (b). Reprinted with permission from Elsevier Science.

The same conceptional approach used in aqueous electrochemistry to define "absolute electron potentials can be used in solid state electrochemistry. Thus if one chooses as the zero level an electron just outside the solid electrolyte surface, which has been shown14-16 by Trasatti to be the most realistic choice in aqueous electrochemistry, one has ... 

The adiabatic electronic potential energy surfaces (a function of both nuclear geometry and electric field) are obtained by solving the following electronic eigenvalue equation... 

The hrst step in theoretical predictions of pathway branching are electronic structure ab initio) calculations to define at least the lowest Born-Oppenheimer electronic potential energy surface for a system. For a system of N atoms, the PES has (iN — 6) dimensions, and is denoted V Ri,R2, - , RiN-6)- At a minimum, the energy, geometry, and vibrational frequencies of stationary points (i.e., asymptotes, wells, and saddle points where dV/dRi = 0) of the potential surface must be calculated. For the statistical methods described in Section IV.B, information on other areas of the potential are generally not needed. However, it must be stressed that failure to locate relevant stationary points may lead to omission of valid pathways. For this reason, as wide a search as practicable must be made through configuration space to ensure that the PES is sufficiently complete. Furthermore, a search only of stationary points will not treat pathways that avoid transition states. 

This is another indication of the large potential sensitivity of the CV and LSV methods. Equation (2.46) shows that, in order to increase the measurable area under the voltammogram, the scan rate need only be increased. This will be applicable so long as the kinetics of the surface electron transfer reaction are sufficiently fast. 

In order to ameliorate the sharply sloping background obtained in an STS spectrum, the data are often presented as di,/dFh vs. Vb, i.e. the data are either numerically differentiated after collection or Vb has a small modulation applied on top of the ramp, and the differential di,/d Vb is measured directly as a function of Vb. The ripples due to the presence of LDOS are now manifest as clear peaks in the differential plot. dt,/dFb vs. Vb curves are often referred to as conductance plots and directly reflect the spatial distribution of the surface electronic states they may be used to identify the energy of a state and its associated width. If V is the bias potential at which the onset of a ripple in the ijV plot occurs, or the onset of the corresponding peak in the dt/dF plot, then the energy of the localised surface state is e0 x F. Some caution must be exercised in interpreting the differential plots, however, since... 

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