Vibrational spectroscopy electrode surfaces

Figure Bl.22.6. Raman spectra in the C-H stretching region from 2-butanol (left frame) and 2-butanethiol (right), each either as bulk liquid (top traces) or adsorbed on a rough silver electrode surface (bottom). An analysis of the relative intensities of the different vibrational modes led to tire proposed adsorption structures depicted in the corresponding panels [53], This example illustrates the usefiilness of Raman spectroscopy for the detennination of adsorption geometries, but also points to its main limitation, namely the need to use rough silver surfaces to achieve adequate signal-to-noise levels.

The vibrations of molecular bonds provide insight into bonding and stmcture. This information can be obtained by infrared spectroscopy (IRS), laser Raman spectroscopy, or electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). IRS and EELS have provided a wealth of data about the stmcture of catalysts and the bonding of adsorbates. IRS has also been used under reaction conditions to follow the dynamics of adsorbed reactants, intermediates, and products. Raman spectroscopy has provided exciting information about the precursors involved in the synthesis of catalysts and the stmcture of adsorbates present on catalyst and electrode surfaces. 

Dederichs, F., Friedrich, K F. and Daum, W. (2000) Sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy of CO adsorption on Pt(l 11) and Pt(llO) electrode surfaces in perchloric acid solution effects of thin-layer electrolytes in spectro-electrochemistry. J. Phys. Chem. B, 104, 6626-6632. 

As noted in the Introduction, a central focus of our current interests in both surface Raman and infrared spectroscopies is directed towards their utilization in reactive electrochemical systems (3-6). An important virtue of in-situ vibrational spectroscopies for this purpose is that they can yield information on the molecular identity (as well as detailed physical state) of electrogenerated species, and hence can provide considerable mechanistic information for multistep electrode processes. We have recently discussed several facets of such applications in a conference paper for "Surface Vibrations V" (6b). 

Infrared spectroscopy can provide a great deal of information on molecular identity and orientation at the electrode surface [51-53]. Molecular vibrational modes can also be sensitive to the presence of ionic species and variations in electrode potential [51,52]. In situ reflectance measurements in the infrared spectrum engender the same considerations of polarization and incident angles as in UV/visible reflectance. However, since water and other solvents employed in electrochemistry are strong IR absorbers, there is the additional problem of reduced throughput. This problem is alleviated with thin-layer spectroelectro-chemical cells [53]. 

Raman spectroscopy can offer vibrational information that is complementary to that obtained by IR. Furthermore, since the Raman spectrum reveals the backbone structure of a molecular entity [55], it is particularly useful in the examination of polymer film-coated electrodes. There are also some distinct advantages over in situ IR. For example, both the mid and far infrared spectral regions can be accessed with the same instrumental setup (in IR spectroscopy, these two regions typically require separate optics) [55]. Second, solvents such as water and acetonitrile are weak Raman scatterers thus the solvent medium does not optically obscure the electrode surface as it does in an in situ IR experiment. 

The possibility of determining the Ru surface concentration indirectly by IR spectroscopy has also been investigated [108]. This is accomplished by adsorbing a monolayer of the CO on the composite electrodes. In-situ IR spectroscopy of the CO stretching vibration shows distinct bands for CO adsorbed on Pt and on Ru and thus can be used to quantitatively determine the coverage of Ru deposits on the composite electrode surfaces. 

Other spectroscopic techniques that have been used with electrochemistry to probe nanoparticles include electronic and vibrational spectroscopies. The spec-troelectrochemistry of nanosized silver particles based on their interaction with planar electrodes has been studied recently [146] using optically transparent thin layer electrodes (OTTLE). Colloidal silver shows a surface plasmon resonance absorption at 400 nm corresponding to 0.15 V vs. Ag/AgCl. This value blue shifts to 392 nm when an Au mesh electrode in the presence of Ag colloid is polarized to —0.6 V (figure 20.12). The absorption spectrum is reported to be quite reproducible and reversible. This indicates that the electron transfer occurs between the colloidal particles and a macroelectrode and vice versa. The kinetics of electron transfer is followed by monitoring the absorbance as a function of time. The use of an OTTLE cell ensures that the absorbance is due to all the particles in the cell between the cell walls and the electrode. The distance over which the silver particles will diffuse has been calculated to be 80 pm in 150 s, using a diffusion coef-... 

Correlations of in situ and ex situ observations. The characterization methods of surface science have already been established within an electrochemical context, because they can provide structural definition of fine distance scales as well as atomic composition of a surface and, sometimes, vibrational spectroscopy of adsorbates. These ex situ methods normally involve transfer of an electrode from the electrochemical environment to ultrahigh vacuum, and the degree to which they provide accurate information about structure and composition in situ is continuously debated. Additional work is needed to clarify the effect of emersion of samples and their transfer to ex situ measurement environments. The most appropriate experimental course requires observations by techniques that can be employed in both environments. Vibrational spectroscopy, ellipsometry, radiochemical measurements, and x-ray methods seem appropriate to the task. Once techniques suited to this problem are established, emphasis should be placed on the refinement of transfer methods so that the possibilities for surface reconstruction and other alterations in interfacial character are minimized. 

Most studies that aim to improve the characterization of the electrode surface have been carried out using high-vacuum techniques such as Auger [1, 2], XPS [3, 4], SIMS [5, 6], etc. However, these techniques involve the removal of the electrode from the electrolyte and the information derived from them may not reflect the state of the electrode in-situ. In addition, many of these techniques lack the molecular specificity afforded by vibrational spectroscopy and it has long been realised that IR spectroscopy would be an ideal method if it could be applied to the in-situ study of the electrode surface. Information from IR would include, potentially, molecular composition and symmetry, bond lengths and force constants (perhaps allowing us to estimate the strength of a chemisorption bond), and molecular orientation. 

As discussed before in the case of nucleic acids the authors have also considered the incidence of the interfacial conformation of the hemoproteins on the appearance of the SERRS signals from the chromophores. Although under their Raman conditions no protein vibration can be observed, the possibility of heme loss or protein denatura-tion are envisaged to explain a direct interaction of the heme chromophores with the electrode surface in the case of the adsorl Mb. extensive denaturation of Cytc at the electrode appears unlikely to the authors on the basis of the close correspondence of the surface and solution spectra. Furthermore, the sluggish electron transfer kinetics measured by cyclic voltammetry in the case of Cytc is also an argument in favour of some structural hindrance for the accessibility to the heme chromophore in the adsorbed state of Cytc. This electrochemical aspect of the behaviour of Cytc has very recently incited Cotton et al. and Tanigushi et al. to modify the silver and gold electrode surface in order to accelerate the electron transfer. The authors show that in the presence of 4,4-bipyridine bis (4-pyridyl)disulfide and purine an enhancement of the quasi-reversible redox process is possible. The SERRS spectroscopy has also permitted the characterization of the surface of the modified silver electrode. It has teen thus shown, that in presence of both pyridine derivates the direct adsorption of the heme chromophore is not detected while in presence of purine a coadsorption of Cytc and purine occurs In the case of the Ag-bipyridyl modified electrode the cyclicvoltammetric and SERRS data indicate that the bipyridyl forms an Ag(I) complex on Ag electrodes with the appropriate redox potential to mediate electron transfer between the electrode and cytochrome c. 

Another advantage of the SERS spectroscopy is to obtain vibrational spectroscopic informations in electrolyte solution under conditions close to the real biological situation. The continuous development of laser sources with new excitation wavelength lines renders it possible to expand the study of adsorbed biomolecules on different metal surfaces which can also be chemically or electrically modified to adjust specific adsorption properties. Such a crucial event in medical applications as the behaviour of implants in contact with blood can be thus envisaged by the study of the adsorption of blood proteins and its physiological consequences. The possibility to monitor the interfacial electric field of the electrode surface can also be used to... 

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