Studies of Adsorbed Unsaturated Alcohols at Well-Defined Pt(111). Electrode Surfaces by Cyclic Voltammetry Assisted by Vibrational Spectroscopy (EELS) and Auger Spectroscopy

摘要

Molecular substances adsorbed at Pt (111), Pt (100) and polycrystalline Pt surfaces from aqueous solutions are being investigated to determine their mode of adsorption and their electrochemical reactivity. The types of compounds which have been studied to date include aromatic diphenols, mercaptans, biphenyls, amino acids, pyridines and pyridine carboxylic acids such as niacin. Adsorbate orientation is found to have a profound effect on electrocatalytic oxidation and reduction. Adsorbate vibrational properties are investigated by use of electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS). Molecular packing density and elemental composition are obtained by Auger electron spectroscopy. Long-range surface structure is found by low-energy electron diffraction (LEED). Electrochemical behavior of the adsorbed layer is explored by cyclic voltammetry and chronocoulometry and surface spectroscopy studies to be carried out on the same samples without intervening contamination of the surface. Reprints. (mjm)