Calculation of adsorption-induced differential external reflectance infrared spectra of particulate metals deposited on a substrate

Surface Sensitive Infrared Spectroelectrochemistry using Palladium Electrodeposited on ITO-Modified Internal Reflection Elements

Palladium nanoparticles have been electrodeposited on the surfaces of conductive indium tin oxide (ITO) modified silicon internal reflection elements. The resulting films are shown to be excellent platforms for attenuated...

Spontaneous Electric Fields Play a Key Role in Thermochemical Catalysis at Metal-Liquid Interfaces

Large oriented electric fields spontaneously arise at all solid-liquid interfaces via the exchange of ions and/or electrons with the solution. Although intrinsic electric fields are known to play an important role in molecular and biological catalysis, the role of spontaneous polarization in heterogeneous thermocatalysis remains unclear because the catalysts employed are typically disconnected from an external circuit, which makes it difficult to monitor or control the degree of electrical polarization of the surface. Here, we address this knowledge gap by developing general methods for wirelessly monitoring and controlling spontaneous electrical polarization at conductive catalysts dispersed in liquid media. By combining electrochemical and spectroscopic measurements, we demonstrate that proton and electron transfer from solution controllably, spontaneously, and wirelessly polarize Pt surfaces during thermochemical catalysis. We employ liquid-phase ethylene hydrogenation on a Pt/C catalyst as a thermochemical probe reaction and observe that the rate of this nonpolar hydrogenation reaction is significantly influenced by spontaneous electric fields generated by both interfacial proton transfer in water and interfacial electron transfer from organometallic redox buffers in a polar aprotic ortho-difluorobenzene solvent. Across these vastly disparate reaction media, we observe quantitatively similar scaling of ethylene hydrogenation rates with the Pt open-circuit electrochemical potential (E OCP). These results isolate the role of interfacial electrostatic effects from medium-specific chemical interactions and establish that spontaneous interfacial electric fields play a critical role in liquid-phase heterogeneous catalysis. Consequently, E OCP-a generally overlooked parameter in heterogeneous catalysis-warrants consideration in mechanistic studies of thermochemical reactions at solid-liquid interfaces, alongside chemical factors such as temperature, reactant activities, and catalyst structure. Indeed, this work establishes the experimental and conceptual foundation for harnessing electric fields to both elucidate surface chemistry and manipulate preparative thermochemical catalysis.

Optimization of a Commercial Variable Angle Accessory for Entry Level Users of Electrochemical Attenuated Total Reflection Surface-Enhanced Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy (ATR-SEIRAS)

An evaluation of several experimental aspects that can optimize electrochemical attenuated total reflection surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (ATR-SEIRAS) performance using a commercially available, specular reflection accessory is provided. A comparison of different silicon single-bounce internal reflection elements (IREs) is made with emphasis on different face-angled crystal (FAC) options. Selection of optimal angle of incidence for maximizing signal and minimizing noise is shown to require consideration of the optical throughput of the accessory, reflection losses at the crystal surfaces, and polarization effects. The benefits of wire-grid polarizers and antireflective (AR) coatings on the IREs is discussed. High signal-to-noise ratios can be achieved by omitting polarizers, using an AR-coated FAC with a larger face angle, and working at angles of incidence close to the maximum throughput angle of the accessory.

In-Situ Infrared Spectroscopy Applied to the Study of the Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO2 : Theory, Practice and Challenges

The field of electrochemical CO₂ conversion is undergoing significant growth in terms of the number of publications and worldwide research groups involved. Despite improvements of the catalytic performance, the complex reaction mechanisms and solution chemistry of CO₂ have resulted in a considerable amount of discrepancies between theoretical and experimental studies. A clear identification of the reaction mechanism and the catalytic sites are of key importance in order to allow for a qualitative breakthrough and, from an experimental perspective, calls for the use of in-situ or operando spectroscopic techniques. In-situ infrared spectroscopy can provide information on the nature of intermediate species and products in real time and, in some cases, with relatively high time resolution. In this contribution, we review key theoretical aspects of infrared reflection spectroscopy, followed by considerations of practical implementation. Finally, recent applications to the electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂ are reviewed, including challenges associated with the detection of reaction intermediates.

Electrochemical CO Oxidation at Platinum on Carbon Studied through Analysis of Anomalous in Situ IR Spectra

The oxidation of adsorbed CO is a key reaction in electrocatalysis. It has been studied extensively on both extended model surfaces and on nanoparticles; however, correlation between the two is far from simple. Molecular insight into the reaction is often provided using in situ IR spectroscopy; however, practical challenges mean in situ studies on nanoparticles have yet to provide the same level of detail as those on model surfaces. Here we use a new approach to in situ IR spectroscopy to study the mechanism of CO adlayer oxidation on a commercial carbon-supported Pt catalyst. We observe bipolar IR absorption bands but develop a simple model to enable fitting. Quantitative analysis of band behavior during the oxidation prepeak using the model agrees well with previous analysis based on conventional absorption bands. A second linear CO band is observed during the main oxidation region and is assigned to the distinct contribution of CO on step as opposed to terrace sites. Analysis of the step and terrace CO bands during oxidation shows that oxidation begins on the terraces of the nanoparticles before CO on steps is removed. Further correlation of this behavior with the current shows that step CO is only lost in the first of the two main oxidation peaks.

Formate adsorption on Pt nanoparticles during formic acid electro-oxidation: insights from in situ infrared spectroscopy

Adsorbed formate is observed on a supported Pt nanoparticle for the first time during formic acid electro-oxidation. Bands assigned to OCO stretching and CH bending reveal some OCO but little CH bond weakening on adsorption compared to the free anion. The formate potential dependence is similar to polycrystalline electrodes while adsorbed CO persists up to +1.2 V, 0.5 V higher than on polycrystalline Pt.

Attenuated total reflection surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy at a cobalt electrode

In situ surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS) in attenuated total reflection (ATR) configuration has been extended to a Co electrode fabricated by potentiostatic deposition of a 50-nm-thick Co overlayer onto a Au underlayer chemically preformed on the reflecting plane of an ATR Si hemi-cylindrical prism. The as-prepared Co-on-Au film was characterized with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The AFM images of the films before and after Co coating revealed island structures facilitating the SEIRA effect with Co nanoparticles much smaller than the underlying Au ones. The XPS spectrum did not contain any characteristic peaks related to Au, suggestive of a virtually pinhole-free nature of the Co overlayer. The voltammetric response of the as-prepared films in phosphate buffer solution (PBS, pH 6.9) was characteristic of a polycrystalline bulk Co electrode. Normally directed unipolar bands were found for surface probe CO molecules on Co surfaces in the PBS with their major band (CO(L)) intensity being one order of magnitude higher than that obtained with conventional IR reflection-absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS). By taking advantage of the higher detection sensitivity, the bands for linearly bonded CO (CO(L)) at 1965-2005 cm(-1) and the multi-bonded (CO(M)) band at 1845-1875 cm(-1) were clearly detected with their Stark tuning rates being 59 and 63 cm(-1) x V(-1), respectively, which would be otherwise unobtainable with the conventional IRRAS in the neutral solution.